Government for the protection afforded by the American consular representatives in Mexico to Chinese residents. I have [etc.] E. T. WILLIAMS. The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the American Chargé d'Affaires. [Translation.] September 9, 1913. SIR: This Ministry has received from Mr. Chang, Chinese Chargé d'Affaires in the United States, a telegram to the following effect: Since the beginning of the Mexican disturbances the American Government has issued repeated instructions to American consuls in Mexico to afford protection to Chinese resi dents of the country; also, when seventy odd refugees fled to El Paso they were provided temporarily with sustenance. When the disturbance of the vegetable gardens" OCcurred for the second time, over thirty Chinese found refuge and were protected in the American Consulate. When I, the Vice Minister, received this information I was profoundly moved by both joy and gratitude. I have telegraphed Chargé d'Affaires Chang to present the thanks of this Government to the American Government, and I have the honor to address to you, sir, this special letter of thanks. With compliments. [Seal of the Minister for Foreign Affairs.] File No. 312.93/43. The Acting Secretary of State to the Chinese Chargé d'Affaires. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, September 19, 1913. MY DEAR MR. CHARGÉ D'AFFAIRES: The Department is in receipt of a telegram dated the 18th instant from the American Consul at Durango, Mexico, which I have the honor to quote for your information: Kindly ascertain at Chinese Legation what arrangements, if any, have been made for Chinese subjects to leave Mexico. Several hundred in this district without consular representative and very much alarmed. Many cases of actual suffering. The Department will be happy to transmit to the Consul such reply as you may desire to make. I am [etc.] JOHN E. OSBORNE. File No. 312.93/45. The Chinese Chargé d'Affaires to the Secretary of State. LEGATION OF CHINA, Washington, September 23, 1913. MY DEAR MR. SECRETARY:I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your note of September 19th informing me [etc.] the substance of which I telegraphed to my Government for its information, and in reply thereto I have been directed to ask the Department to instruct the American Consul at Durango to render such assistance as may be necessary to those Chinese who are destitute and needing help, and that the Legation will be glad to reimburse the Department for such expense as may be incurred. I beg [etc.] CHANG KANG-JEN. NOTE. The Consul was instructed as above requested, or September 26. File No. 312.93/47. The Acting Secretary of State to the Secretary of Labor. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, October 6, 1913. SIR: I have the honor to inform you that this Department is in receipt of a communication from the Chinese Legation in this city in which it is requested that transportation be furnished for thirtynine Chinese, who are now at Ojinaga, to Ciudad Juárez. On account of the uncertain railroad facilities across Mexican territory from Ojinaga to Ciudad Juárez, this Department believes it is advisable for these refugees to be sent via Presidio, Alpine and El Paso, Texas. The Chinese Legation agrees to pay whatever expenses are incurred. It is very likely that you will find it necessary to have some agent of the Immigration Bureau go to Ojinaga and look after the transportation of these Chinese. This Department will be glad for you to give this request of the Chinese Legation prompt attention." I have [etc.] J. B. MOORE. File No. 312.93/49. The Acting Secretary of State to the Chinese Chargé d'Affaires. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, October 11, 1913. MY DEAR MR. CHANG: Referring to the Department's note of October 6, 1913, relative to the request of your Legation that transportation be furnished at the expense of your Government for thirty-nine Chinese citizens from Ojinaga to Ciudad Juárez, I beg to inform you that the Department is now in receipt of a letter dated October 7 from the Secretary of Labor from which it appears that thirty-five instead of thirty-nine Chinese reached El Paso on October 5 and immediately proceeded to Ciudad Juárez. It appears that the Chinese in question paid their own expenses. I am [etc.] J. B. MOORE. File No. 312.93/51. The Acting American Consular Agent at Guaymas to the Secretary of State. [Telegram.] SAN DIEGO, (received October 14, 1913.) President local Chinese colony has wired Chinese Minister at Washington asking protection against commercial discrimination against Chinese here and have asked that I be authorized to represent them in the matter. W. J. PHILLIPS. File No. 312.93/51. The Secretary of State to the American Consular Agent at Guaymas. [Telegram.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, October 14, 1913. Yours relative to commercial discrimination against Chinese. You will at once take this up with appropriate authorities and urgently protest against these discriminations. Insist that every legal and reasonable protection to which they are entitled be afforded them. BRYAN. File No. 312.93/52. The American Consul General at Monterey to the Secretary of State. [Telegram.] AMERICAN CONSULATE GENERAL, Please inform Chinese Minister that thirty-five Chinese are without clothing or food, one wounded as result of late battle. I am supplying them food. The leading one says that 2000 pesos are needed to help clothe and feed them. HANNA. File No. 312.93/53. The Secretary of State to the American Consul General at Monterey. [Telegram.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, November 3, 1913. Chinese Legation here requests that you give such assistance as may be necessary to destitute Chinese. Please comply, keeping separate account of such expenditures in order that a bill may be submitted to Chinese Legation for reimbursement. BRYAN. File No. 312.93/55. The Acting Secretary of State to the Chinese Chargé d'Affaires. No. 262.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, December 16, 1913. SIR: The Department has received a telegram dated the 10th instant from the American Consul at Mazatlan in which he informs it that Chinese residents in Mazatlan have asked his advice and that he has advised them in case of danger to concentrate in a building which they have taken near the Consulate and where they have stored nearly half a million dollars' worth of merchandise. Accept [etc.] J. B. MOORE, CLAIMS OF AMERICAN CITIZENS AGAINST MEXICO FOR DAMAGES ARISING FROM REVOLUTIONARY DISTURBANCES.1 File No. 412.00/22. The American Chargé d'Affaires to the Secretary of State. No. 1834.] AMERICAN EMBASSY, Mexico, December 30, 1912. SIR: I have the honor to enclose herewith for the information of the Department copies of a note and translation thereof, dated November 9, 1912, from the Minister for Foreign Affairs to the Minister of Great Britain, pertaining to the attitude of the Mexican Government in the matter of claims growing out of the recent disturbances, which I received only Saturday last. I have [etc.] MONTGOMERY SCHUYLER. [Inclosure Translation.] The Mexican Minister for Foreign Affairs to the British Minister. MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, Mr. MINISTER: I was honored by the note of the Legation of November 5 in which, pursuant to instructions, your excellency asks what attitude will be taken by the Mexican Government for the settlement of claims submitted by foreigners on account of the present conditions in this country. In reply I have the pleasure to say to your excellency that this Government considers that the disturbances which are occurring throughout the Republic, do not have the character of the Revolution of 1910, as your excellency so wisely understands; and it hopes that the Government of Great Britain is e the same opinion. For which reason the Government of Mexico has not made any decision in regard to the above claims, hoping that the disorders will cease. As soon as this happens I shall be pleased to inform your excellency as to whatever course may be adopted. I avail [etc.] PEDRO LASCURAIN. Continued from For. Rel. 1912, pp. 929-986. File No. 312.11/1031c. The Secretary of State to the American Ambassador. [Telegram-Paraphrase.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, January 7, 1913-5 p. m. Referring to Mr. O'Shaughnessy's letter of December 28, 1912, and attached memorandum.' The Department does not fully share some of the views which, it infers from the memorandum, you expressed to Mr. Lascurain. The Department deems it best at present to press individual cases as occasion requires pending that future time when a general settlement with Mexico may be necessary. Mr. Lascurain made a decidedly favorable impression. At the interviews with the President and at the Department it was sought to impress upon him that Mexico must protect American life and property; do justice to American citizens; restore order; respond to the great moral obligation to be especially considerate of American interests and promptly meet this Government's requests in specific cases; and, in general, exemplify that friendliness, earnestness and efficiency in protecting American interests necessary to justify before public opinion the continuance of the signally friendly and patient policy of the United States. Mr. Lascurain seemed sincerely anxious to make every effort along the lines suggested. KNOX. File No. 412.11/149. The American Ambassador to the Secretary of State. No. 1845.] AMERICAN EMBASSY, Mexico, January 8, 1913. SIR: I have the honor to invite the attention of the Department to the apparent discrepancy and inconsistency in the character of its various instructions to this Embassy on the subject of the claims of American citizens. In the Department's telegram of April 14th, [1912], 3 p. m.2 the President's views of the attitude of the United States towards claims was given and the following definition of our position was made: The enormous destruction, constantly increasing, of valuable American properties in the course of the present unfortunate disturbances, the taking of American life contrary to the principles governing such matters among all civilized nations, the increasing dangers to which all American citizens in Mexico are subjected, and the seemingly possible indefinite continuance of this unfortunate situation compel the Government of the United States to give notice that it expects and must demand that American life and property within the Republic of Mexico be justly and adequately protected, and that this Government must hold Mexico and the Mexican people responsible for all wanton or illegal acts sacrificing or endangering American life or damaging American property or interests there situated. This instruction, as the Department is aware, was given wide publicity at the time of its issuance, both in the American and Mexican with the natural result that numerous Americans were encour press, This memorandum (without the letter, which merely covered it) is printed in For. Rel. 1912 at page 985. 2 For. Rel. 1912, p. 787. |