852.24/417a
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Mexico (Daniels)
Sir: On his return from Mexico, the Mexican Ambassador called at the Department and discussed at some length the attempts which have been made to export arms from the United States to Spain via Mexico. He reiterated the assurances already given by his Government insofar as concerns shipments made before the passage of the Neutrality Act of May 1, 1937,60 and stated that arms which entered Mexico before the passage of that Act would not be permitted to be transshipped to Spain. He added that henceforth his Government would make no official requests that this Government issue export licenses authorizing the exportation of arms to Mexico unless those arms were destined for use by the Mexican military forces. In respect to other arms which might be exported to Mexico in the future, he said that his Government should itself assume the responsibility of seeing to it that licenses were not issued authorizing the exportation of any shipment destined to Spain, and to that end should assure itself before issuing licenses that shipments consigned to private individuals in Mexico would not involve violation of our law.
The Ambassador was informed that the position of his Government as he had explained it was entirely satisfactory to this Government.
[Page 590]As long as the Spanish Ambassador in Mexico and his agents continue to be active in attempts to purchase arms in this country for transshipment to Spain, the Department will be obliged to scrutinize with particular care all applications for licenses to authorize the exportation of arms to Mexico. You are requested, therefore, to furnish me from time to time with any information which you may have which would assist the Department in determining whether or not export licenses authorizing shipments ostensibly destined to Mexico may legally be issued.
Very truly yours,
- 50 Stat. 121.↩