This microfilm publication reproduces the records from the decimal file of the Department of State, 1910-29, that relate to internal affairs of Mexico. They are mostly instructions to and despatches from diplomatic and consular officials; the despatches are often accompanied by enclosures such as diplomatic notes exchanged, pamphlets, and newspapers. Also included in these records are notes between the Department of State and foreign diplomatic representatives in the United States, memoranda prepared by officials of the Department and correspondence with officials of other Government departments and with private firms and individuals.
CRL has scanned selected portions of the NARA set (reel 30, 32, 35, 40, 45-46, 49, 151, 161, 204) based on faculty interest. This collection has seen high use within CRL's Digital Delivery System (6000+ views).
The microfilm guide describes the general arrangement of the files according to the State Department decimal system of subject classification. Broad subject areas include:
- Lists of Documents (brief abstracts of the documents, serves as a finding aid to the set): Reels 1-9
- Political Affairs: Reels 10-106
- Public Order and Safety: Reels 107-137
- Military Affairs and the Army; Naval Affairs: Reels 138-143
- Social Matters: Reels 143-160
- Economic Matters: Reels 161-204
- Industrial Matters: Reels 205-233
- Communication and Transportation: Reels 234-240
- Other Internal Affairs/Miscellaneous: Reels 241-243
The Economic Matters group of records reproduced in this microcopy relates to Mexican economic affairs. There is a significant section on labor, including wages and hours, labor unions, strikes and lockouts, slavery, and employers' liability in hazardous employments. The section on financial affairs includes details about loans to Mexico and various states made by foreign banks. The Mexican taxation system is described at length, and includes information on the tax sale of property of US citizens, the gasoline tax in Monterrey, poll tax, income tax, and inheritance tax. Additional topics in the Economic Matters group of records include: lotteries, monetary system, banks, real estate, colonization, right of foreigners to hold property in Mexico, intellectual and industrial property, immigration into Mexico, and emigration.