Foreign Relations of the United States, 1955–1957, American Republics: Multilateral; Mexico; Caribbean, Volume VI

249. Memorandum for the Files, by the Ambassador in Mexico (Hill)¹

Mexico City, November 29, 1957.

SUBJECT

• Memorandum of Conversation with President Adolfo Ruiz Cortines

At the President’s request I called on him at Los Pinos at 7:00 p.m. on November 29, 1957. The conversation continued one hour and a half.

1. The President said that he had asked me to come to see him before leaving for Washington because he wanted me to carry his special greetings to President Eisenhower and to review with me his own views about U.S.-Mexican relations as he sees them.

2. He spoke in very affectionate terms of President Eisenhower stressing how concerned he felt over the report of his recent illness, and how important his recovery is to the cause of freedom in the world. His words in this regard were very warm and sincere. He hoped President Eisenhower would be able to taper his activities to spare himself the great strains of his office, some way should be found for him to deal only with the major problems confronting the world, as he is too much needed, now more than ever. He asked me to present his personal greetings and good wishes to the President.

3. The President said he had kept in close touch with my efforts and was very pleased with the matters which are regularly brought to his attention. He noted as marks of friendship that visits had been made to all levels of Mexican life, mentioning labor groups, press, and “both industrial and agricultural organizations;” in this connection he said that the visit to the State of Taxacala, a poor state with a large Indian population, where the party had gone to the bull farms and to the Indian pueblos and eaten with the people out of the common Mexican servings, was particularly impressive to the people of Mexico and the reports had spread quickly around the country, by word of mouth. He expressed again his appreciation for the Embassy’s action during the July 27th earthquake, in which he said the Embassy had followed a wise and understanding course by not becoming alarmist and had also, in the visit which I made in the company of Minister Counselor Gray to the Foreign Minister early on that Sunday morning, offered the assistance of the United States in any way it might be needed. He mentioned also the recent trip to Hermosillo, saying that when I had stayed in the background and avoided efforts to be photographed at his side (as others were doing) he felt that a real courtesy and understanding of Mexico was shown.

4. The President said he preferred to talk directly and simply, in a personal and off-the-record way. He knew it is the practice of the United States Government to keep close records in foreign affairs and eventually to publish them, but he liked to feel that he could avoid official communications and handle problems between the United States and Mexico in a way which could accomplish results without the hindrance of formalities. He then asked whether, in my opinion, relations with the Foreign Minister were going satisfactorily, implying that his great respect for the professional qualifications of the Minister did not lead him to overlook that large questions of policy might not always be best decided if left exclusively in his hands. I assured him that our relations with the Minister and his assistants were satisfactory on our part, and we wished to work closely with them. He referred specifically to several officials under the Minister (Under Secretary Goristiza, Oficial Major Ojeda, Ambassador Rabasa) and I indicated our high regard for them and also mentioned others as well, such as Protocol Chief Mariscal.

The President then said that even though this were so, he wanted to see our relations continue to progress. He said that I should feel free to come to see him at anytime I had something which I thought sufficiently important to take up with him personally and he would give it his immediate personal attention.

5. Referring to general policy, the President said he felt we are as interested as he is in dealing now not with the past but with the present and the future. I indicated that any comparative references would be inapplicable as our policies toward Mexico were long demonstrated as friendly; that I was well acquainted with the views of Secretary Dulles on our relations with Mexico, which were consistently constructive. The President terminated his reference to this matter by saying he knew that I had no prejudices.

6. He then went into the matter of United States investments. He emphasized several times that the basis of good relations must be mutual respect; all foreign interests in Mexico are treated fairly if they respect the laws and traditions of the country. He referred to General Draper and Mr. Richardson as two Americans with a thorough understanding of the way Mexicans conduct their relations with American businessmen. He said American companies now pay very good wages to their Mexican employees, and give them real benefits whereas some years ago the difficulties experienced by American companies were largely of their own making.

7. Reiterating that the Mexican people, though poor and suffering from severe wants in many sectors of the population, had maintained their dignity and independence, the President said there is no problem for any foreigner in Mexico who recognizes these characteristics of his people. (I noted that there was no hint, expressed or implied, for any economic assistance on our part, merely a restatement of his feelings about the basic requirements for good relations.) He said he appreciated very much how we were keeping out of Mexican internal affairs; the present time, being an election year, is especially dangerous as attempts are made to provoke statements from the Ambassador of so important a country as the United States. He said that even silence when these political matters are brought up in my presence can be twisted to an interpretation of interference. He added that he was glad that I had not accepted the invitation to appear on the “Meet the Press” TV program, as the sponsors would have liked to attempt to bring me into political matters, of concern only to Mexicans, and detrimental to our good relations.

8. The political future, said the President, is excellent. He praised the nominee of the official party, Labor Minister Lopez Mateos; he knows him intimately, having trained and guided him for this candidacy; he would be ideally equipped to carry on the work which President Ruiz Cortines has himself set as his ambition for the Mexican people; he said “Lopez Mateos is just like me.” He added that Lopez Mateos knows and understands the United States and is gifted in working harmoniously with others. He made a special point that Lopez Mateos knows how to handle the Communist (“just as I do”) and that he would be competent to deal with the Communist elements should they become any problem. He said his great advantage was Lopez Mateos was twenty years younger than he and had his same ideals.

9. When I thanked the President for Mexico’s support in international affairs, I also made reference to the decision just communicated to me by the Foreign Minister that Mexico could not contribute to the UNEF² support. The President said that the Government is short of money, but that he would look at the matter again to see if there is some way that the contribution could be made.

10. The President asked me to renew his thanks to Dr. Eisenhower and Assistant Secretary Rubottom for their visit and their assistance in Mexico’s corn purchase under PL–480, and to convey his respects to Mr. Rubottom for his constant interest in Mexico. He asked me to give his greetings to Vice President Nixon and Governor Adams in the White House, and to reassure the President that he continues to be most anxious to advance our relations on the friendliest and most effective plane possible.

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 611.12/12–2357. Official Use Only. Transmitted to the Secretary under cover of a memorandum from Rubottom dated December 23. According to Rubottom’s memorandum, a copy of the Ambassador’s memorandum was also transmitted to the White House. (Ibid.)
2. Reference is to a U.N. Emergency Force to deal with crises in the Middle East which was established by U.N. Resolution 1000 (ES–I) adopted by the General Assembly on November 5, 1956.