[Enclosure]
The American Ambassador (Daniels) to the Mexican Minister for Foreign Affairs
(Hay)
No. 2486
Mexico, October 27, 1937.
Excellency: I have the honor to refer to
the interview of this morning between President Cárdenas and the
representative of the American landowners in the Yaqui Valley, as
related to me by the latter.
Certain courses of action are understood to have been outlined to
that representative, concerning which I desire to offer the
following observations.
Regarding the apparent intention of the Mexican Government to dotate
more than four hectares (from 5 to 8 hectares) of American-owned
land to each ejidatario on the theory that
the land is “temporal” (Article 47, paragraph II of the Agrarian
Code) it may be observed that the Government intends to allow pequeñas propiedades of only 100 hectares to
each American landowner. This would appear to
[Page 618]
present a combination of circumstances
not in keeping with the Agrarian Code. Article 51, paragraph II, of
that Code, provides that when the pequeña
propiedad is in “temporal” lands, it shall be of 300
hectares, or under the circumstances described in the last paragraph
of Article 51, it is to consist of 200 hectares. It appears,
therefore, if the information reaching me is correct, that the lands
which it is proposed to dotate are being classified in two different
ways in the same decision, to the disadvantages of the American
landowners and without following the Agrarian Code of Mexico. I am
informed by the representative of the American landowners
opportunity was not afforded him for presentation of his views and
reasons in support of them.
The question of indemnification of the American landowners for their
canals and other irrigation works (Article 54 of the Agrarian Code)
on their property proposed by the Government for affectation does
not seem to have been resolved. Likewise the question of equality of
water rights on the affected lands and the lands it is proposed to
give the American owners in exchange appears not to have been
thoroughly explored.
Respecting the proposed evaluation of the lands to be taken and the
lands to be given in exchange therefor, my Government strongly feels
that there should be no dotations until the evaluations have been
completed and that this should also apply in the matter of the
payment for equipment, animals and other objects to be acquired by
the Mexican Government.
In connection with the proposed dotation of American owned lands in
the Yaqui Valley, it is understood that President Cardenas has
approved the continuance of planting of wheat until October 30,
1937. Such plantings are to be exempt from dotation until the wheat
crop has been harvested.
Apparently reliable estimates indicate that approximately only 30% of
the wheat crop can be planted prior to October 30.
I am informed that since all of the wheat lands have already been
plowed and irrigated at considerable expense, the owners will suffer
great loss if they are not granted several weeks additional time for
the planting of the remaining 70% of their wheat lands, and, of
course, allowed to harvest the entire wheat crop. Moreover, it is
doubtful whether the ejidatarios could be
organized in time to plant the crop before the planting season
expires. Thus, a greatly deficient wheat crop, with consequent loss
to the national economy, is to be expected if the American
landowners are not given the facilities they desire to complete the
planting and harvesting of that crop.
Thus, in the interest of all concerned, it is practically most
desirable that the request of the landowners in this regard be
approved.
[Page 619]
It is to be observed that in most cases practically all of the
financial resources of the American farmers in the Yaqui Valley are
tied up in their lands, their equipment, and the preparations
already made for sowing wheat.
As I have heretofore said to you, by direction of my Government,
which is greatly disturbed over the taking of land from Americans,
it urges that adequate compensation should be made both for lands
affected under the Agrarian Code, and for the improvements on these
lands prior to dotation.
Please accept [etc.]
