411.12/1146: Telegram The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Mexico (Clark) WASHINGTON, December 16, 1930-4 p. m. 344. Your 351, December 15, 5 p. m. Go ahead and make arrangement along the lines you discussed or as near it as you can accomplish. Make it clear that the postponement of certain cases is only for a limited time and because Mexico asks it, and that the failure to press these cases at this time is not in any way a waiver of our position with regard to them, making clear that otherwise we should have gone forward with these very claims which they ask us to postpone at this time. We think the arrangement you outline is in general all right and we think the yielding to the Mexican desire for postponement of the particular cases will make Mexico's position more difficult when they come to try to put conditions on any extensions of the conventions. When you have got the matter tied up, ask Mr. Roa for his ideas about an en bloc settlement and how to pay it. 411.12/1152: Telegram STIMSON The Ambassador in Mexico (Clark) to the Secretary of State MEXICO, December 22, 1930-5 p. m. [Received 9:13 p. m.] 354. My 351, December 15, 6 [5] p. m. We received from the Foreign Office this morning original copies in English and Spanish of a memorandum dated December 17th, substantially in accordance with the memorandum drafted by me and submitted to the Foreign Office on that date, as summarized in my 351. The only important difference is that Vázquez Schiaffino's memorandum refers to "acts of Villa or his followers." In drafting our memorandum I had in mind that "acts of Villa" would include "or his followers." Note received from Foreign Office today states that the offices of the Foreign Office will be closed from December 22nd until January 2nd for winter vacation. The Embassy understands that with certain minor exceptions all Mexican Government Departments are adhering to this rule. CLARK 411.12/1158 No. 69 The Ambassador in Mexico (Clark) to the Secretary of State MEXICO, December 23, 1930. [Received December 29.] SIR: Referring to my telegram number 354 of December 22, 5 p. m., regarding the memorandum dated December 17th but received yesterday from the Foreign Office, relative to the time and place of meeting of the General and Special Claims Commissions, United States and Mexico, I have the honor to transmit herewith copies of the Spanish and English original texts as received by me. I received two copies each of the English and Spanish texts, and I have returned two identical original copies (one English, one Spanish) to the Foreign Office after having initialed them. 34 I also transmit herewith a copy of a memorandum which I submitted to the Foreign Office on December 17th, on which Mr. Vázquez Schiaffino's memorandum is presumably based. In returning Mr. Vázquez Schiaffino's memorandum to the Foreign Office with my initials, Mr. Lane pointed out that there was one apparently unimportant discrepancy between the English and Spanish texts of his memorandum, namely, in the English text the word "periods" appears on line 12 of Enclosure No. 2 to this despatch, while in the Spanish text, on line 14 of Enclosure No. 3, the words "etapas ó períodos" (stages or periods) are used. Respectfully yours, [Enclosure] J. REUBEN CLARK, JR. Copy of English Text of a Memorandum Presented by the Mexican Foreign Office, and Initialed by Mr. Vázquez Schiaffino and Ambassador Clark MEMORANDUM It is agreed that the General and Special Claims Commissions between the United States and Mexico shall hold their forthcoming sessions as hereinafter provided. 1. The Special Claims Commission shall meet in Mexico City on or about February first, 1931, and shall continue in session there until on or about May first, 1931. At the request of the Mexican Government, the Government of the United States agrees that it will not present to the Commission during the session provided for, any case involving acts of Villa or his followers committed during such periods when his official relationship to the Mexican Government was of doubtful character, nor any acts of Victoriano Huerta during the period from February 19, 1913, to July ❝ Not printed. 19, 1914. It is understood and agreed that by withholding these cases from the consideration of the Commission during the sessions provided for above, the Governments of the United States and Mexico do not waive any of their rights with reference to such cases, which are to be in no way prejudiced by such postponement. 2. The General Claims Commission shall meet in Washington on or about May 5, 1931, and shall continue in session until on or about July 15, 1931. At the request of the Mexican Government, the Government of the United States agrees that it will not present to the Commission during the session above provided for, any case based upon the taking of land for agrarian purposes under the agrarian laws. It is understood and agreed that by withholding these cases from the consideration of the Commission during the session above provided for, the Governments of the United States and Mexico do not waive any of their rights with reference to such cases, which are to be in no way prejudiced by such postponement. TEMPORARY CLOSING OF THE MEXICAN CONSULATE AT LAREDO TEXAS, IN REPRISAL FOR THREATENED ARREST OF GENERAL CALLES, FORMER PRESIDENT OF MEXICO 812.001C13/37: Telegram The Acting Secretary of State to the Governor of Texas (Moody) WASHINGTON, July 20, 1929. Department has been advised by Mexican Ambassador that General Plutarco Elias Calles, former President of Mexico, arrives in Laredo Monday morning en route to Europe via New York. The Mexican Ambassador, in inviting the Department's attention to statements reported to have been made by John A. Valls, former District Attorney for Webb County, to the effect that General Calles would be arrested upon arrival in that county for complicity in the death of two Mexican citizens in Laredo on June 7, 1922, points out that on that date General Calles was within territorial confines of the Republic of Mexico and consequently was outside of the jurisdiction of the State of Texas. In view of the foregoing, the Department would be deeply grateful if you would cause such steps to be taken so as to obviate any actions or disturbances which might be prejudicial to the friendly relations between this Government and the Government of Mexico. WILBUR J. CARR 812.001 C13/38: Telegram The Governor of Texas (Moody) to the Acting Secretary of State AUSTIN, July 22, 1929. [Received July 23-12:47 a. m.] Am advised by R. L. Bobbitt, District Attorney, Laredo, Texas, that there are no charges pending there and none have ever been filed there against General Calles. He further states that he has no information concerning any charges and that no charges have been suggested or filed with him which would form the basis of any action. He states that he is sure nothing will take place to disturb the friendly relations between the two Governments. DAN MOODY 3 12.001 C13/41 The Consul at Nuevo Laredo (Boyce) to the Secretary of State No. 140 NUEVO LAREDO, MEXICO, July 23, 1929. [Received July 27.] SIR: I have the honor to report as follows the arrival of General Plutarco Elias Calles, ex-President of Mexico at Laredo, Texas, July 22, 1929. On July 19, 1929, I received from Ambassador Dwight W. Morrow at Mexico City a code telegram advising me of the arrival of General Calles at Laredo on July 22, 1929, and stating that General Calles wished no demonstration. On the same evening the Laredo Times published a story, a copy of which is enclosed,35 with large headlines, "Calles Visit Might Be Stormy" followed by an interview with County Judge John A. Valls, formerly Prosecuting Attorney of Webb County, who stated that if he were Prosecuting Attorney he would arrest General Calles, refuse bond, and send him to the penitentiary. The article then quoted Mr. Valls statement of last August that "The prosecution against Calles and his fellow conspirators will remain pending with the fervid hope that some day they will be called upon to answer for their enormous crimes at the bar of public justice in Webb County". The following morning July 20, I called on Mr. R. L. Bobbitt, exspeaker of the Texas House of Representatives and now Prosecuting Attorney for Webb County. He was very much upset over Mr. Valls statement and the newspaper publicity given to it. He had already made an appointment with the Mexican Consul in Laredo, Texas, to assure him there would be no difficulties in General Calles passing thru Laredo. At that time none of the American officials in Laredo knew if General Calles would come this way. 35 Not printed. I did not tell Mr. Bobbitt that General Calles was coming thru Laredo but I told him that I was very anxious to know what his attitude was in case General Calles did come and that if any disturbance was expected I would report it at once to the American Embassy at Mexico. I then explained to him that if necessary General Calles could easily be clothed with diplomatic immunity and that no local official would have any authority to approach him. Mr. Bobbitt apparently was not familiar with that feature of the case but he said the citizens of Laredo would certainly not want to stir up trouble but would on the contrary do everything possible to assure General Calles of a cordial welcome. Having satisfied myself that there would be no difficulties of any kind I did not report the incident. The Laredo Times printed Sunday morning under large headlines "Calles Expected Here" that Prosecuting Attorney Bobbitt stated "A careful examination of the files and records in my office fails to show that there are now pending or that there had ever been filed, any charges of any character against the former President Plutarco Elias Calles of Mexico in Webb County". On the afternoon of July 20 I called on the Mexican Consul and we agreed that the news of General Calles' arrival should be kept secret. On Sunday, July 21, Mr. H. Brennan, Chairman of the Reception Committee of the Laredo Chamber of Commerce called up to say that General Calles would arrive the morning of July 22 and to invite me to be on the committee of welcome. I found that the Mexican Consul had told Mr. Brennan that General Calles was coming. I explained to Mr. Brennan that I had received a wire from Ambassador Morrow informing me of General Calles' arrival and that he desired no demonstration. Mr. Brennan stated that they were not planning anything but a small committee of welcome, with possibly an invitation to breakfast at Fort McIntosh, but that if General Calles did not feel able to leave his car they would be satisfied with presenting their respects and welcoming him to Laredo. They were especially anxious to dispel the bad feeling and misunderstanding aroused by Mr. Valls. When General Calles arrived at the American end of the railroad bridge at 8:30 A. M. the committee of welcome were introduced. Capt. Wood, Commandant of Fort McIntosh, had arranged & mounted guard of honor at the railway station. General Calles, who apparently was feeling much better than the day before, seemed to be very pleased with the welcome he received. He inspected the guard of honor at the station while a salute was fired at Fort McIntosh, and shook hands with many Mexicans who crowded around the rear of the train platform. I wish to explain that since the news of General Calles arrival became public it was impossible to prevent some kind of a reception on |