611.1231/7–947
The Secretary of State to the Mexican Ambassador (Espinosa de los Monteros)
Excellency: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note No. 4538 of July 9, 1947, enclosing a copy of a memorandum [Page 781] dated July 3, 1947,74 which was delivered to an officer of the United States Embassy at Mexico City and to representatives of this Government who were in Mexico City for the purpose of consulting with authorities of the Government of Mexico pursuant to Article X of the trade agreement now in force between our two countries.75 The note and memorandum refer to the intention of the Government of Mexico to impose quantitative restrictions upon the importation into Mexico of certain products regarded as non-essential, including a number enumerated in Schedule I of the trade agreement, for the purpose of checking the present drain upon its foreign exchange reserve resulting from continued heavy imports.
You request that the note and memorandum be considered by my Government as formal notice by the Government of Mexico, in accordance with Article X, of its intention to restrict imports of certain products enumerated in Schedule I of the agreement.
In accepting the note and memorandum as due notice of the action, I have noted that the commercial policy objective of the Government of Mexico continues to be the elimination of barriers to international trade and that it regards its action to restrict imports as a temporary emergency measure which will be withdrawn as its balance of international payments improves.
I also have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note No. 4539 of July 9, 1947,76 courteously informing my Government of the intention of the Government of Mexico to increase import duties on certain products with a view to discouraging excessive imports which have been adversely affecting its balance of international payments.
Accept, Excellency, the renewed assurances of my highest consideration.