322. Memorandum of a Conversation, President Ruiz Cortines’ Home, Mexico City, November 30, 19581
SUBJECT
- U.S.-Mexican Relations
PARTICIPANTS
- President Ruiz Cortines
- General Radames Gaxiola, Presidential Aide
- Secretary Dulles
- Dr. Milton Eisenhower
- Ambassador Hill
- Assistant Secretary Rubottom
- Minister C.W. Gray
The Secretary said he had been in Augusta that afternoon to see President Eisenhower, who especially charged him with presenting warm greetings to his friend, the President. The latter seemed pleased and touched with this message. To the Secretary’s mention of a recent letter to the President from President Eisenhower, President Ruiz Cortines said the letter had been deeply appreciated for the friendly and affectionate sentiments expressed therein. It had also been a stimulant to him. He spoke warmly of President Eisenhower. The President inquired about the health of President Eisenhower and said he hoped it was better than before his illness. He also said he knew Secretary Dulles had had a serious operation and was glad to see him looking so fit.
The President referred to his meeting with the Secretary at White Sulphur Springs. At that time he believed the Secretary had already “chalked up” 25,000 miles of official travel as Secretary of State, but now the President had lost count of the miles the Secretary had traveled. The Secretary estimated that perhaps he had traveled some 500,000 miles. General Gaxiola did a quick calculation and announced that this was equal to twenty times around the earth.
To the President’s query, the Secretary said he would be staying until Tuesday, December 2.
The Secretary said he had recently visited Taiwan2 and had been able to get Chiang Kai-Chek to agree to renounce exclusive dependence on force to attain his objectives vis-à-vis Red China. Efforts were being made at Warsaw to get a similar agreement from the Reds.
The Secretary stated that he would be going to Europe December 15 to consult with the French, British and West Germans regarding the [Page 854] Berlin situation.3 Did the President have any advice for him about this difficult problem? The latter smilingly said he could not give advice “to an adviser”; that he was concerned mainly with America (he repeated this word three times). He did not believe the Soviets would do anything drastic: what they were doing now amounted to a “feint”. The Secretary said yes, they were probing and trying to find a weak spot; if the West stood firm, he had hopes the Soviets would not push too far. They wanted to get the West out of West Berlin, a city the Secretary had visited after the war when it was in shambles. The reconstruction and spirit of West Berlin were nothing short of marvelous. The contrast between East and West Berlin was enormous. The Communists didn’t like this, so they hoped to drive the West out.
The President inquired what formulas the Secretary might have to solve some of the world’s great problems. The Secretary commented that one of the best ways to start was to find a workable plan of disarmament. The amount spent on armament was staggering. Representatives of other countries, including many small ones, came to Washington in a steady stream and the first thing they asked for was arms. He said to them that instead of spending their money for arms, they should spend it to improve the welfare of their people. To this they turned a deaf ear, insisting that they needed arms. Both the President and Secretary Dulles agreed that if all the money now being spent to maintain a military posture were put to constructive use, wonders could be accomplished for the people. Dr. Eisenhower remarked that he had been told with pride by the Costa Ricans that they had more teachers than soldiers. The President said that this was true in Mexico. General Gaxiola interjected that he had argued with the President (whom he said never did agree) that Mexico required a larger Air Force which was especially needed and useful in emergencies such as flood relief, anti-malaria dusting, etc. Mexico had recently bought some planes in the United States (the President made a vague remark about a price of a million dollars per plane; Gaxiola said this was incorrect, the entire lot had only cost $80,000 thanks to U.S. surplus prices). The Secretary jestingly said he had found all military men to be alike and he believed General Gaxiola might well get a new name for the Agency using Air Force planes for health and rescue operations.
Secretary Dulles complimented the President on the fine globe which he had in his office and all present proceeded to examine it. The Secretary pointed out the route of his recent Far East trip. Someone commented that since the President was in the happy position of surrendering the cares and burdens of official life, he might be making some trips abroad. The President said he did not contemplate anything [Page 855] like this; his time would be spent in and devoted to America. The Secretary expressed the hope that in any trips he made in the Americas, he would not fail to visit his northern American neighbor, the United States. The President responded in an agreeable but non-committal way.
In taking leave the Secretary expressed the opinion to the President that his Administration would go down in history as one in which Mexico had made great strides and had contributed in an important and constructive way to finding solutions to world problems. In particular, the President’s Administration had been marked by fruitful and friendly cooperation with the United States. Mexico had increasingly taken her place as one of the leaders of the continent and was admired and respected as such. To this the President expressed thanks, but remarked that the Secretary was overly generous out of an excess of affection for Mexico. The Secretary responded that the sentiments he had expressed came not only from the heart but also from the mind. Then the President said that the Administration of López Mateos would follow the outgoing Administration’s policy with regard to relations with the United States; he could guarantee that.
The President then spoke of the pleasure and satisfaction afforded him by the relations he had maintained with the Secretary, with his friend Dr. Eisenhower, Ambassador Hill and Mr. Rubottom. These were relations of comprehension, confidence, respect and friendship. All present were confident that such relations would be maintained in the future.