Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 55 Part 2.djvu/683

 55 STAT.] MEXICO-PETROLEUM PROPERTIES-NOV. 19, 1941 The Secretary of State to the Mexican Ambassador DEPARTMENT OF STATE WASHINGTON November 19, 1941 EXCELLENCY: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of Your Excellency's note of today's date, reading as follows: "I have the honor to refer to recent conversations I have had with Your Excellency with reference to compensating the na- tionals of the United States of America whose properties, rights or interests in the petroleum industry in the United Mexican States were affected by acts of expropriation or otherwise by the Government of Mexico subsequent to March 17, 1938. It is my understanding that the following has been agreed upon: 1. Each of the Governments will appoint, within the thirty days following the date of this note, an expert whose duty it shall be to determine the just compensation to be paid the na- tionals of the United States of America whose properties, rights or interests in the petroleum industry in the United Mexican States were affected to their detriment by acts of the Government of Mexico subsequent to March 17, 1938. Nevertheless, the provisions of this note do not apply to properties, rights or interests which may have been included in any arrangement with respect to their purchase, transfer or indemnification con- cluded between their owners or possessors and the Government of the United Mexican States and, in consequence, the experts will exclude from their evaluation proceedings and reports said rights, interests and properties. 2. The designated experts will hold their first meeting in Mexico City within 15 days following the appointment last made by either Government. The later meetings and other activities of the experts will take place on the dates and at the places which the experts themselves determine within the periods contem- plated by this agreement and they shall be held on Mexican territory. 3. Each Government shall designate such assistants as the respective experts may require to facilitate their labors. 4. The expenses of salaries, maintenance, transportation and other incidental expenditures of the experts and their assistants, will be met by the Government naming them. The joint expenses incurred during the proceedings of the experts shall be shared equally by the two Governments. 5. The experts shall at all times closely collaborate and coop- erate in their evaluation proceedings. They may obtain directly such data and evidence as they may consider pertinent to forming their opinion, or receive them from the interested persons and institutions and from the Governments of Mexico and of the United States of America. 278941--42-PT. II -43 1557 Appointment of ex- perts to determine compensation. Meetings. Assistants. Expenses. Procurement of data and evidence.

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