Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 56 Part 2.djvu/742

 1828 Rehabilitation meas- ares by U. S. INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS OTHER THAN TREATIES [56 STAT. cated that the production of Mexico of materials for use in the prose- cution of the war in which both of our countries are now engaged is being pressed to the limit, but you appropriately point out that unless certain basic changes and improvements are made in the struc- ture and operation of the Mexican National Railways, these lines will not be able to carry the unusual war time peak load which is now and which will be increasingly placed upon them. It is made clear that unless this situation is promptly corrected, the war interests of our two countries and of the other United Nations will suffer. Your Excellency refers to the joint efforts to improve the situation which have already been made through the cooperation of our two govern- ments and requests that this collaboration be extended materially. The Government of the United States is in full accord with the thoughts expressed in Your Excellency's note under acknowledg- ment, and desires promptly to extend the added measure of collabo- ration which is essential to solve our mutual problems. Agencies of the Government of the United States have agreed to purchase from Mexican producers extensive quantities of a long list of strate- gic commodities. These are materials which are urgently needed by the United States in providing raw materials for the manufacture of war equipment for its own forces, for those of Mexico and for those of the other United Nations. Were it not for the augmented strain being placed on the Mexican National Railways because of United States purchases of strategic materials for its Armed Forces, the extensive rehabilitation of certain parts of the system and the furnishing of additional technical assistance and labor would not be necessary for the normal needs of the Railway Lines. My Gov- ernment considers that it would not be fair to expect Mexico to bear this disproportionate burden. Consequently, my Government is prepared to pay its equitable share of the cost of the improvements which must be made in order that the materials in question may be transported to American War Plants. I have noted with gratification that, in consideration of the assist- ance by my Government, the Mexican Government will on its part see to it that there are taken, from an organizational and operating point of view, all measures necessary to achieve optimum efficiency of the Mexican National Railways and that in this connection it will welcome the suggestions and advice of the United States Railway Mission. It is my understanding, from the informal conversations thus far held on the subject, that it will be acceptable to the Mexican Govern- ment if my Government undertakes, through the Office of the Co- ordinator of Inter-American Affairs, the following measures of rehabilitation on certain sections of the Mexican Railways: 1. The lines to be covered are: (a) Main line extending south from United States border at Laredo, Texas, via Monterrey-Saltillo-San Luis Potosi to Mexico; (b) East-West line from Torre6n via Pared6n to Monterrey; (c) Main line southward from Cordoba and Puerto Mexico via

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