Messersmith, G.S., Mexico City. To M[ichael] J[ames] McDermott, Washington.
Date
1942-08-21
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Delaware Library, Museums and Press
Abstract
Description
Acknowledges letter of Aug. 18 with enclosed report entitled "Rumors in Mexico", sent to McDermott by Gen. George C. Cutting of Military Intelligence; no credence may be placed in most of report; Mexico is a country of rumors; will comment on each rumor mentioned in report; (1) Mexicans are being drafted into American Army and Navy to fight for U.S.; true, in one respect; under U.S. draft laws, now Mexico is in war, Mexicans legally domiciled in U.S. came under the draft and are being drafted; U.S. criticized for involving Mexico in war; rumor spread in Mexico that U.S., not Germany, sank Mexican tankers to force Mexico into war - no doubt Axis propaganda; (2) Messersmith criticized for entertaining Carol of Rumania and Mme. Lupescu at benefit given by "British for Chinese relief"; benefit not British, but combined Mexican, American, and British affair; Carol and Mme. Lupescu not Messersmith's guests but were seated at same table along with Secretary and Mrs. [Claude R.] Wichard; statement that Carol is pro-Fascist is untrue; his attitude has been openly and definitely anti-Fascist; (3) with respect to statement that "the highest strata among Mexicans are not in sympathy with U.S. in the war effort," there is a small conservative group opposed to Mexican Government and unfriendly to U.S., but greater part of higher strata definitely anti-Axis, though they may not love U.S.; (4) criticism of Guy Ray is ridiculous; he is a first-class officer in charge of press relations; if he refused to participate in a radio program, he had sound reasons; gathered impression that most of the criticisms are from British sources; the British in Mexico do not get on well with the Mexicans, nor do they get the cooperation in Mexico which U.S. gets; every would-be sleuth, secret agent, or propagandist comes to the Embassy; when they are turned off gracefully, they naturally write home that the Embassy press officer or Military or Naval Attaché, or some other people among Embassy personnel are uninterested and incompetent.
Keywords
Messersmith, George S. (George Strausser), 1883-1960.