File No. 312.11/1887a. The Secretary of State to American Consular Officers in Mexico. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, August 16, 1913. GENTLEMEN: The Department confirms its telegram to you of August 8, 1913, directing that you submit a report supplementing the information now in the Department's possession, submitted by you in reply to the instruction of November 25, 1912, relative to American citizens and their property in your district. This information should be brought down to August 20, 1913. You will also revise in a separate report the reply submitted by you to the Department's instruction of June 4, 1913, giving the names and locations of settlements and communities of Americans, and you should include in your report a statement of the number of Americans in cities and large centers of population. quested in the telegram, you will add to this report a sketch or map showing the geographical location of American citizens and means of communication, whether by railroad or otherwise. In the latter case your report should be made by cantons, and in both cases should cover the entire district, including that part under the supervision of consular agents. The Department desires to have in its possession complete information as to Americans in Mexico, and that this information be kept up to date in order that such Americans may receive, if necessary, such protection and assistance as it may be possible to give them. You will accordingly submit a tabulated statement giving the number, names, location and condition of all Americans in your district on August 20, 1913. You will also arrange to keep in touch with Americans in your district and to have them notify you promptly in the event that they shall leave your district, giving you the name, date, route to be traversed, and destination. This information should at once be forwarded to the Department upon the enclosed form. Similarly, you will notify the Department of the arrival of Americans in your district. In order that the Department's information may be as complete as practicable, you should add to your report, giving the list of Americans in your district, such comments as may seem appropriate to you as to the manner in which various American citizens could be reached in case of necessity, and the approximate cost of transporting them to the United States if it should become necessary for them to leave Mexico. I am [etc.] File No. 312.11/2120a. For the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State to American Consular Officers in Mexico. [Telegram.-Paraphrase.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, August 27, 1913,—10 p. m. The President directs me to send you the following notice to Americans and warning to the authorities, in view of the possibility of increased activity of the contending factions in Mexico and therefore increase danger to noncombatants: First. Earnestly urge all Americans within your Consular district to leave Mexico at once, informing them that the Government will assist them in every possible way, providing ships at the most accessible ports for those who are near to seaports. Those inland should make their way to the American border or to a seaport as soon as possible. All who need it will be given pecuniary assistance. Second. Notify all civil or military officials exercising authority in any part of your Consular district that this Government will hold them strictly responsible for any harm done to Americans and for any injury done to American property by them or by those acting under them. In case a change in authority takes place, you will bring this notice to the attention of those who may assume authority. You will convey to the authorities an intimation that any maltreatment of Americans is likely to raise the question of intervention. BRYAN. File No. 312.11/3047a. The Acting Secretary of State to the American consular officers in Mexico. [Telegram.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, December 26, 1913–6 p. m. Prepare and transmit continuation to January 1, 1914, of report called for in first paragraph of instruction of August 8th last. J. B. MOORE. PROTECTION BY THE UNITED STATES OF SPANISH, FRENCH, GERMAN, CHINESE AND JAPANESE SUBJECTS IN MEXICO. File No. 812.00/6102. GENERAL POLICY. The American Ambassador to the Secretary of State. [Telegram Paraphrase.] AMERICAN EMBASSY, Mexico, February 12, 1913. The district in which foreign colonists reside is now in the direct line of dangerous firing. The houses of many Americans have been seized and occupied by Federal forces as firing stations. I have protested in most vigorous terms directly to the President against this barbarous warfare in the heart of the city, and also against the apparently malicious attack on the American Consulate-General. I have instructed consuls at ports where there are United States war vessels to extend protection to German subjects. WILSON. File No. 812.00/6102. The Secretary of State to the American Ambassador. [Telegram-Paraphrase.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, February 13, 1913. Last paragraph of your February 12. Protection should be given, whenever feasible, to all foreigners and not be confined to those of one nationality. You will so modify your instructions to consuls at ports where there are United States war vessels. ΚΝΟΧ. File No. 312.11/1123a. The Secretary of State to the Secretary of the Navy. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, February 17, 1913. SIR: With reference to the recent despatch to Mexican waters of various naval vessels which are under orders to observe and to report upon the situation, with particular reference to the protection of foreigners and foreign interests, I have the honor to say that this Department, in replying to the inquiries of various foreign missions at this capital as to whether protection would be extended to their nationals, has stated that after Americans and American interests have been provided for such assistance and protection would be extended to other foreigners and foreign interests as might be possible under the circumstances. It seemed a matter of course that such a reply should be made, but since the Department has been unofficially informed by your Department that there is no specific rule among the Navy Regulations governing this matter. I have the honor to say that the Department would be glad to have the commanders of the various vessels in Mexican waters instructed to afford, after Americans and American interests have been adequately provided for, such assistance and protection to foreigners and foreign interests as may be possible under the circumstances. I have [etc.] P. C. KNOX. File No. 312.11/1142. The Secretary of the Navy to the Secretary of State. DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY, SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of letter dated February 17th, 1913, from the Department of State, requesting that the commanding officers of naval vessels in Mexican waters be instructed to afford, after Americans and American interests have been 140322°-FR 1913- 57 adequately provided for, such assistance and protection to foreigners and foreign interests as may be practicable under the circumstances. I have to state that instructions in substance to this effect were sent by cable to the various vessels on February 15th. Respectfully yours, G. v. MEYER. File No. 312.52/2. The American Ambassador to the Secretary of State. [Telegram-Paraphrase.] AMERICAN EMBASSY, Mexico (not dated; received March 4, 1913). 73. I have instructed the Consul at Piedras Negras (Ciudad Porfirio Diaz), Coahuila, to give to Spanish subjects in his district such protection as may be consistent and necessary. This action is taken at the request of the Spanish Minister. WILSON. File No. 312.52/2. The Secretary of State to the American Ambassador. [Telegram-Paraphrase.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, March 5, 1913. Your telegram 73. You may inform the Spanish Minister of the following instruction to the Consul at Eagle Pass.1 Your telegrams' relative to the situation of foreigners in Ciudad Porfirio Diaz and the measure of protection that should be afforded them by you. In conneetion with your first duty, to insist upon the protection of Americans and their interests, you are authorized to use your good offices in all proper cases to assure so far as possible the safety, efficient protection and welfare of other foreigners in your district, and you may use such good offices in gaining the acquiescence of the local authorities in any just requests made by other foreigners in so far as you may be desired to interest yourself in such matters. As to the refusal to allow foreigners to leave, you may informally and unofficially but none the less earnestly say to the local authorities that this Government regards such procedure as absolutely irregular and unwarranted in the circumstances and that the foreigners should be immediately permitted to leave if they desire to do so and should, indeed, be given all possible facilities and protec tion in their movements. File No. 812.00/9275. BRYAN. The American Chargé d'Affaires to the Secretary of State. [Telegram-Paraphrase.] AMERICAN EMBASSY, Mexico, October 18, 1913-3 p. m. 564. The German Minister requests me to make urgent representations to my Government regarding the 40 Germans detained in Tor 'Opposite Piedras Negras (Ciudad Porfirio Diaz). Not printed. reón by Francisco Villa, who he states is permitting American citizens to depart, but has informed the other foreigners that he will hold them hostages against an attack by the Federal forces. The Minister states that he has been sure that the United States Government can and will use its unofficial good offices with the rebel leaders to the end that these German subjects may be immediately released. The other foreigners in Torreón whom Villa refuses to release are 7 Englishmen, 40 Frenchmen, and great number of Spaniards and Italians. NELSON O'SHAUGHNESSY. File No. 812.00/9275. The Secretary of State to the American Chargé d'Affaires. [Telegram-Paraphrase.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, October 19, 1913. Consular Agent at Torreón instructed to make clear to the rebel authorities that all foreigners desiring to leave should be permitted to do so unmolested. The Agent was also instructed that the same protection we extend to American citizens should be extended to nationals of foreign nations. BRYAN. File No. 812.00/9952. The American Consul at Ciudad Juárez to the Secretary of State. [Telegram-Extract.] EL PASO, TEXAS, November 23, 1913. No reliable news from Chihuahua City, but the general impression is that it will fall into the hands of the rebels without battle. EDWARDS. File No. 312.62/35. The Acting Secretary of State to the American Consul at Ciudad Juárez. [Telegram-Paraphrase.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, November 29, 1913. Department desires you to express informally to Villa the importance of his taking the utmost care to afford adequate protection to the lives and property of all foreigners residing in the territory under his control. OSBORNE. |