711.129/203a: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Mexico (Sheffield)
69. [Paraphrase.] At the earliest possible moment please deliver to the Minister for Foreign Affairs a note in the following terms: [End paraphrase.]
“Under instructions from my Government I have the honor to give to the Government of the United Mexican States on behalf of the United States of America the official notification contemplated by Article XV of the Convention to prevent smuggling into the respective territories of the two countries of articles the importation of which is prohibited by law and for other purposes, signed at Washington December 23, 1925, whereby the operation of the said Convention will terminate in accordance with its terms on March 28, 1927.”
[Paraphrase.] It is the intention of the Department to give the following statement to the press immediately upon receipt of advice by telegraph from you of the day and hour when the note was delivered. [End paraphrase.]
“The Convention between the United States and Mexico to prevent smuggling and for certain other objects was signed December 23, 1925, ratified March 11, 1926, and proclaimed March 18, 1926. It went into effect so far as the United States was concerned upon March 28, 1926. By its terms the Convention was to remain in force for one year, upon the expiration of which period, if no notice of a desire to terminate it had been given by either party, it was to continue in force until thirty days after either party should give notice of termination.
Upon due consideration the Government has concluded to terminate the treaty at the expiration of the year, and has accordingly given the appropriate notice to the Government of Mexico.
It may be pointed out in this connection that the United States has no commercial treaty with Mexico, and that in the circumstances it is not deemed advisable to continue in effect an arrangement which might in certain contingencies bind the United States to cooperation for the enforcement of laws or decrees relating to the importation of [Page 231] commodities of all sorts into another country with which this Government has no arrangement, by treaty or otherwise, safeguarding American commerce against possible discrimination.”
Please advise promptly.