811.504/2184: Telegram
The Ambassador in Mexico (Messersmith) to the Secretary of State
[Received 11:55 p.m.]
425. Reference Department’s airmail instruction No. 2975 of April 8, 1943.16 Exchange of notes covering changes in the agricultural labor agreement of August 4, 1942 agreed upon by both Governments was made today effective April 26, 1943. Publicity will be given to this exchange by means of a communiqué to the Mexican press drafted by the Foreign Office and which will be handed to the press here at 8 p.m., April 30 for release in press May 1, 1943.
Since the changes made in the basic agreement will apply not only to labor to be recruited but to all Mexican workers who have been recruited since the inception program, it is respectfully suggested that the Department may desire to arrange to have some publicity given to this exchange of notes thereby reaching some persons now employing Mexican agricultural labor who will be affected by the changes. An item of interest which might find its way into such a notice to the press might be based upon the fact that up to today’s date approximately 15,000 Mexican workers have reached the United States and are engaged in agricultural work. 7,000 more are expected to move north during May and a total of 50,000 may be sent during 1943.
It would be appreciated if whatever notification is given to the press in the United States17 is telegraphed to the Embassy for its information.
[For text of agreement between the United States and Mexico revising the agreement of August 4, 1942, respecting the temporary migration of Mexican agricultural workers to the United States, effected by an exchange of notes signed at Mexico City, April 26, 1943, see Department of State Executive Agreement Series No. 351, or 57 Stat. (pt. 2) 1152.]