812.00/6–2546
Memorandum by the Chief of the Division of Mexican Affairs (Carrigan)10
USA Again Being Brought Into the Mexican Electoral Picture
Over the past few months, and since Lombardo Toledano’s unwarranted allegations concerning arms-running, the USA has, relatively speaking, not been mentioned in the Mexican electoral campaign leading up to the July 7 Presidential elections.
[Page 977]Recently a statement was made by Padilla11 which was interpreted by his opponents to imply that the United States should supervise or otherwise verify the legality of the forthcoming elections.
Padilla, in essence, only said that we would have the right to make up our own minds whether or not to recognize the announced result of the elections. This was carefully blown up by the opposition to Padilla to the allegation Padilla wanted to turn Mexican electoral procedure and sovereignty over to the USA.
There is no need for any comment on our part, and, for that matter, any comment would be misinterpreted. However, if any specific questions are asked I believe we should say that Mexican elections are Mexico’s business, likewise United States policy is United States’ business.
- Addressed to the Assistant Secretary of State for American Republic Affairs (Braden) and to the Director of the Office of American Republic Affairs (Briggs).↩
- Presidential candidate Ezequiel Padilla (former Mexican Minister for Foreign Affairs). According to a memorandum of July 1, 1946, by the Divisional Assistant of the Division of Mexican Affairs (Hughes): “Alemán is backed by the Government, Lombardo Toledano, labor, and other leftist elements; Padilla by the more conservative groups. Alemán has been attacked by his opponents as a tool of the Communists, while Padilla has been accused as being a tool of the United States, to which his opponents say he ‘sold out’.” (812.00/7–146)↩