Political Report on Mexico for May 1963, Shiv Kumar, Second Secretary, Embassy of India, Mexico City. 'Denuclearized Zone'

Political Report on Mexico for May 1963

SECRET

By Bag A

No. 1(SP)/63

DATE: June 5, 1963

FROM: Shiv Kumar, Second Secretary, Embassy of India, Mexico City

TO: Foreign Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs

Denuclearized Zone: Although the Mexican denuclearization plan for Latin America (see paragraph 4 of our April report) has won appreciation from Secretary-General U Thant, some Latin American countries were tepid in their response. “In accordance with its specific instructions, El Salvador would see it with satisfaction if a world arrangement against the atomic threat is reached and, particularly, if the generous initiative of Mexico, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile and Ecuador to sign an agreement converting Latin America into a denuclearized zone is promoted,” wrote the President of El Salvador to President Lopez Mateos in a telegram. The Honduran President was equally lukewarm in his reply to the Mexican President: “My Government applauds the purposes which inspired such a declaration” (referring to the declaration of the Five) “but I consider it convenient to consult other Central American Governments on this to be able to act harmoniously.” The attitude of the Colombia Government was actually cold: “Colombia will not specify its position until consultations with other countries of the hemisphere are completed,” said the Colombian Foreign Minister in a press interview.