Ask the Scholar
Page 30 of 89
I can add historical knowledge about this page.
Page image
OCR
ECRET
25
of luxury fish is being exploited about as much
southern states. Soft woods are cut primarily
as possible, without any prospects of main-
for the domestic market, although small
taining or further developing present fishing
amounts of pine are licensed for export to the
areas. Several steps would probably be nec-
US; and hard woods are normally produced
essary in order to solve the problem: (1)
for both the domestic and export markets.
higher standards of living for the Mexican
Current policy of the Mexican Government is
people, including increased consumption of
to conserve forests through severe restrictions
fish; and (2) improved and increased trans-
on exploitation and prohibitions on exports,
portation, refrigeration and processing facili-
particularly of mahogany.
ties. Since Mexico has not as yet started
In spite of the belief of the Mexican Govern-
proper development of the fishing industry, it
ment that forest resources are being severely
is reasonable to assume that it will be some
depleted, the Food and Agricultural Organ-
time before the problems will be solved.
ization (UN) estimates of growth and drain
The Mexican Government on 31 December
of forests in Mexico from 1937 to 1946 indicate
1947 adopted a new fishery law which requires
that net growth exceeded total cut by 30 per-
that persons engaged in commercial fishing
cent and 45 percent respectively. For the
organize cooperative societies, registered with
world as a whole, the cut in 1937 was approxi-
the Ministry of Treasury and Public Credit.
mately 100 percent of net growth and in 1946
Furthermore, foreign vessels fishing in Mexi-
it exceeded net growth by 9 percent, thus in-
can territorial waters must register, post bond,
dicating Mexico's favorable position in com-
and pay fees required by export tariff laws on
parison to world totals.
all catches. Because of these particular pro-
The most important forest products in
visions of the law, most vessels of Guatemalan,
Mexico are not wood, but chicle, used as a
Cuban, or US origin which wish to engage in
base for chewing gum; copra, used in the
fishing operations solely within Mexican wa-
manufacture of cocoanut oil; camphor; co-
ters find it necessary to transfer their titles to
quito palm oil; copal; and zacatón root, used
Mexican registry, which usually involves at
to make coarse brushes; and guayule rubber.
least a "paper transaction" sale of the vessel
There are possibilities for profitable exploita-
to a Mexican cooperative. A new project of
tion not only of the non-lumber products, but
a fishery law introduced in the 1949 session
also of the vast tracts of virgin forests in
of Congress would eliminate some of these re-
Mexico now inaccessible because of lack of
strictions.
roads, rivers, and other means of transporta-
After several years of intermittent negotia-
tion.
tions, Mexico and Cuba have finally arrived
Mexico's forest resources have been used
at a fisheries agreement, and the US and
Mexico have arrived at tentative bases for an
more to provide firewood and charcoal for
agreement. The delay in coming to agree-
household fuel than for any other use. The
ment was due primarily to the refusal on the
Ministry of Agriculture estimate of charcoal
part of both the US and Cuba to recognize
production in 1944, for example, was 173,231
Mexico's claim of jurisdiction over nine miles
metric tons, valued at 24 million pesos, while
of coastal waters instead of the three-mile
the Armour Research Foundation estimated
jurisdiction established by international law.
that annual consumption of charcoal is three
or four times as much as official estimates
Friction frequently arose out of this situation,
particularly as foreign vessels fishing between
show. In addition, the Mexican Government
the three and nine-mile limits were im-
authorizes annual cutting of firewood in the
pounded and fined heavily by Mexican au-
amount of over 600 thousand cubic meters,
thorities.
and actual cutting is probably much greater.
In order to conserve forested areas, numerous
(3) Forestry.
legislative measures designed to control tim-
Forests and woodlands occupy about one-
ber-cutting for fuel have been adopted in re-
seventh of the total land area of Mexico, the
cent years. However, legislation to control
densest being along the coasts and in the
or prohibit the burning of wood fuel can reach
SECRET
Page data
- Page
- 30
- Source index
- 0
- Type
- photo
- Media ID
- 55437be959377786
- Size
- unknown
Document data
- ID
- 486500006
- Core
- doc
- Type
- document
DTO data
{
"id": "486500006",
"sourceUrl": "https://catalog.archives.gov/id/486500006",
"contentType": "document",
"title": "Report, Central Intelligence Agency, Mexico, Situation Report 18",
"citationUrl": "https://catalog.archives.gov/id/486500006",
"collections": [
"President's Secretary's Files (Truman Administration)",
"Intelligence Files"
],
"iiifBase": "https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/presidential-libraries/truman/hst-psf/602196/875506/875506-01-001.tif",
"thumbnailUrl": "https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/presidential-libraries/truman/hst-psf/602196/875506/875506-01-001.tif",
"largeImageUrl": "https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/presidential-libraries/truman/hst-psf/602196/875506/875506-01-001.tif",
"imageCount": 89,
"hasImages": true,
"source": "import",
"hasTranscription": false
}
Context sent to Scholar
Document identity
{
"localId": "486500006",
"label": "Report, Central Intelligence Agency, Mexico, Situation Report 18",
"core": "doc",
"dtoType": "document",
"citationUrl": "https://catalog.archives.gov/id/486500006"
}
Document source metadata
{
"id": "486500006",
"sourceUrl": "https://catalog.archives.gov/id/486500006",
"contentType": "document",
"title": "Report, Central Intelligence Agency, Mexico, Situation Report 18",
"citationUrl": "https://catalog.archives.gov/id/486500006",
"collections": [
"President's Secretary's Files (Truman Administration)",
"Intelligence Files"
],
"iiifBase": "https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/presidential-libraries/truman/hst-psf/602196/875506/875506-01-001.tif",
"thumbnailUrl": "https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/presidential-libraries/truman/hst-psf/602196/875506/875506-01-001.tif",
"largeImageUrl": "https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/presidential-libraries/truman/hst-psf/602196/875506/875506-01-001.tif",
"imageCount": 89,
"hasImages": true,
"source": "import",
"hasTranscription": false
}
Document source extras
{
"url": "https://catalog.archives.gov/id/486500006",
"naId": 486500006,
"levelOfDescription": "item",
"productionDates": [
{
"day": 24,
"logicalDate": "1951-01-24",
"month": 1,
"year": 1951
}
],
"recordType": "description",
"ocrSource": "nara-archive"
}
Page context
{
"seq": 30,
"pageIndex": 0,
"type": "photo",
"url": "https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/presidential-libraries/truman/hst-psf/602196/875506/875506-01-030.tif",
"mediaId": "55437be959377786",
"ocrText": "ECRET\n25\nof luxury fish is being exploited about as much\nsouthern states. Soft woods are cut primarily\nas possible, without any prospects of main-\nfor the domestic market, although small\ntaining or further developing present fishing\namounts of pine are licensed for export to the\nareas. Several steps would probably be nec-\nUS; and hard woods are normally produced\nessary in order to solve the problem: (1)\nfor both the domestic and export markets.\nhigher standards of living for the Mexican\nCurrent policy of the Mexican Government is\npeople, including increased consumption of\nto conserve forests through severe restrictions\nfish; and (2) improved and increased trans-\non exploitation and prohibitions on exports,\nportation, refrigeration and processing facili-\nparticularly of mahogany.\nties. Since Mexico has not as yet started\nIn spite of the belief of the Mexican Govern-\nproper development of the fishing industry, it\nment that forest resources are being severely\nis reasonable to assume that it will be some\ndepleted, the Food and Agricultural Organ-\ntime before the problems will be solved.\nization (UN) estimates of growth and drain\nThe Mexican Government on 31 December\nof forests in Mexico from 1937 to 1946 indicate\n1947 adopted a new fishery law which requires\nthat net growth exceeded total cut by 30 per-\nthat persons engaged in commercial fishing\ncent and 45 percent respectively. For the\norganize cooperative societies, registered with\nworld as a whole, the cut in 1937 was approxi-\nthe Ministry of Treasury and Public Credit.\nmately 100 percent of net growth and in 1946\nFurthermore, foreign vessels fishing in Mexi-\nit exceeded net growth by 9 percent, thus in-\ncan territorial waters must register, post bond,\ndicating Mexico's favorable position in com-\nand pay fees required by export tariff laws on\nparison to world totals.\nall catches. Because of these particular pro-\nThe most important forest products in\nvisions of the law, most vessels of Guatemalan,\nMexico are not wood, but chicle, used as a\nCuban, or US origin which wish to engage in\nbase for chewing gum; copra, used in the\nfishing operations solely within Mexican wa-\nmanufacture of cocoanut oil; camphor; co-\nters find it necessary to transfer their titles to\nquito palm oil; copal; and zacatón root, used\nMexican registry, which usually involves at\nto make coarse brushes; and guayule rubber.\nleast a \"paper transaction\" sale of the vessel\nThere are possibilities for profitable exploita-\nto a Mexican cooperative. A new project of\ntion not only of the non-lumber products, but\na fishery law introduced in the 1949 session\nalso of the vast tracts of virgin forests in\nof Congress would eliminate some of these re-\nMexico now inaccessible because of lack of\nstrictions.\nroads, rivers, and other means of transporta-\nAfter several years of intermittent negotia-\ntion.\ntions, Mexico and Cuba have finally arrived\nMexico's forest resources have been used\nat a fisheries agreement, and the US and\nMexico have arrived at tentative bases for an\nmore to provide firewood and charcoal for\nagreement. The delay in coming to agree-\nhousehold fuel than for any other use. The\nment was due primarily to the refusal on the\nMinistry of Agriculture estimate of charcoal\npart of both the US and Cuba to recognize\nproduction in 1944, for example, was 173,231\nMexico's claim of jurisdiction over nine miles\nmetric tons, valued at 24 million pesos, while\nof coastal waters instead of the three-mile\nthe Armour Research Foundation estimated\njurisdiction established by international law.\nthat annual consumption of charcoal is three\nor four times as much as official estimates\nFriction frequently arose out of this situation,\nparticularly as foreign vessels fishing between\nshow. In addition, the Mexican Government\nthe three and nine-mile limits were im-\nauthorizes annual cutting of firewood in the\npounded and fined heavily by Mexican au-\namount of over 600 thousand cubic meters,\nthorities.\nand actual cutting is probably much greater.\nIn order to conserve forested areas, numerous\n(3) Forestry.\nlegislative measures designed to control tim-\nForests and woodlands occupy about one-\nber-cutting for fuel have been adopted in re-\nseventh of the total land area of Mexico, the\ncent years. However, legislation to control\ndensest being along the coasts and in the\nor prohibit the burning of wood fuel can reach\nSECRET"
}