File No. 312.52/676. The Secretary of State to Special Agent Belt. [Telegram.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, October 16, 1915. Consul Bonney requests that General M. Zapata at Tula, Tamaulipas, be instructed to respect all property there belonging to Spanish Vice Consul at San Luis Potosí consisting of hides (ixtle and plantation, now threatened by General Zapata. At request Spanish Embassy, ask General Diéguez to withdraw forced loan 100,000 pesos imposed on Bank of Mazatlan, majority of stock of which said to be owned by Spaniards. File No. 312.52/681. Special Agent Belt to the Secretary of State. [Telegrams.] LANSING. TORREON, October 21, 1915. Department's October 16. Concerning property Spanish Vice Consul San Luis Potosí, see my October 13. Foreign Secretary this morning stated that all cases pertaining to Spanish subjects should be dealt with direct through either Spanish consul or accredited Spanish representative with this Government. The Government here desires direct representation from accredited representatives of foreign Governments in the interests of their nationals. Heretofore the United States has made many of these representations at request of foreign governments. File No. 312.52/682. JOHN W. BELT. TORREON, October 21, 1915. Department's October 8. See my October 13 and October 21. This Government desires to deal directly with representatives of foreign governments accredited to this Government. Will Department inform me what further action is desired relative to these representations on behalf of Spanish and other foreign interests? JOHN W. BELT. File No. 312.52/681. The Secretary of State to Consul Bonney. [Telegram.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, October 23, 1915. Your October 8. Foreign Secretary of de facto government requests representations regarding Spanish interests be made directly by accredited Spanish representatives in Mexico. File No. 312.52/682. LANSING. The Secretary of State to the Spanish Ambassador 98 DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, October 23, 1915. MY DEAR MR. AMBASSADOR: Referring to previous correspondence in regard to the protection of Spanish property in Mexico, I beg to inform you that the Department is in receipt of two telegrams from the Department's representative at Torreon, in reply to instructions given him at your request and at the request of the Spanish Vice Consul at San Luis Potosí, in which the representative states that the de facto Government of Mexico has informed him that it desires to deal directly with the accredited Spanish representatives concerning Spanish interests. I am [etc.] File No. 312.115/228. ROBERT LANSING. Consul Alger to the Secretary of State. [Telegram.] AMERICAN CONSULATE, Mazatlan, [undated; received November 5, 1915.] Your instructions [October 19] regarding forced loan Banco Occidental carried out. Action suspended pending proof nationality shareholders, and if same proven, loan will be cancelled. Have thanked General Diéguez. ALGER. File No. 012/3749. Consular Agent Glenn to the Secretary of State. [Extract.] GUANAJUATO, November 16, 1915. SIR: I would thank you to kindly advise me your wishes as regards Spanish religious institutions and Spaniards in general. There is no Spanish Consul in this State and I have had very many requests * The same, mutatis mutandis, to the French, Italian, German and British Ambassadors. from Spaniards for assistance, they claiming that in Guadalajara and other parts they are under the protection of the American flag. Awaiting [etc.] JOHN B. GLENN. File No. 312.52/693. The Secretary of State to Consular Agent Glenn. [Telegram.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, December 6, 1915. In absence Spanish Consul, you may exercise informal good offices with local officials behalf Spanish subjects. You should advise them. however, to appeal to agents of their government in Mexico, as Carranza Government requires representations behalf Spaniards be made by authorized agents of Spain. LANSING. File No. 312.52/686. The Secretary of State to the Spanish Ambassador.** DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, December 13, 1915. MY DEAR MR. AMBASSADOR: Referring to your call at the Department on the morning of November 24th last, when you stated that Spanish subjects were largely interested in the Banco Oriental, which was reported to have been closed by the Mexican authorities in Mexico City, and that a considerable amount of the stock of this bank is held by the American Tropical Development Company, I desire to state that the Department's representative at Mexico City, Mr. Charles B. Parker, telegraphed under date of December 2 that all banks of issue in Mexico would be required to have by December 10 a metallic currency equal to one-half of the amount of their paper issue, and that such banks of issue as are unable to meet that requirement would lose their concessions and be forced into liquidation. As the Department's representative states that there is practically no American capital invested in the banks mentioned, I am of the opinion that representations through Mr. Parker in behalf of the banks would not be acceptable to the de facto Government of Mexico. Moreover, the de facto Government recently informed the Department of State that representations on behalf of foreign interests should be made by the appropriate diplomatic representatives of the countries whose citizens or subjects are concerned, and not by the representative of this Government. I am [etc.] ROBERT LANSING. Letters in the same sense were sent on the same date to the British and French Ambassadors. See For. Rel. 1914, p. 884. File No. 312.52/688. Vice Consul Lux to the Secretary of State. [Telegram.] AMERICAN CONSULATE, Vera Cruz, December 22, 1915. Spanish Consul Vera Cruz in a communication to-day requests transmit his petition for admission four Spaniards American war vessel until first steamer Havana to avoid arrest and arbitrary prosecution [omission] attempted seizure of hotel property here. Consul desires assume the responsibility in handling matter with authorities and establish precedent regarding seizure of property. File No. 312.52/688. The Secretary of State to Vice Consul Lux. [Telegram.] Lux. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, December 28, 1915. Your December 22. This Government is not disposed to extend refuge to foreigners on American war vessels except in cases of extreme emergency. The cases mentioned by you do not appear to be of this nature. LANSING. EXPULSION OF THE SPANISH MINISTER FROM MEXICO; GOOD OFFICES OF THE UNITED STATES. File No. 701.5212/4. The Spanish Ambassador to the Secretary of State. SPANISH EMBASSY, Washington, February 3, 1915. MY DEAR MR. SECRETARY. Confirming the conversation I had with you this morning over the telephone, I beg to inform you that according to a telegram which I have received from the Spanish Minister in Mexico, dated today, the arrest of Angel Caso, a Spanish subject and Confidential Agent of the Spanish Government to General Villa, was attempted yesterday evening at Mexico City, under instructions from General Obregon, who has assumed command of the capital. The gravest fears are entertained by the Spanish Minister in Mexico for the life of Sr. Caso, and he asks me to appeal to your good offices in order to obtain from General Carranza the necessary guaranties for the protection of the person, family, house and property of Sr. Angel Caso. I beg to recommend this request personally to your earnest consideration, in the hope that you will do everything in your power to secure the protection of this Spanish subject, whose life appears to be in extreme danger. Believe [etc.] JUAN RIAÑO. File No. 701.5212/1a. The Secretary of State to the Brazilian Minister to Mexico. [Telegram.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, February 3, 1915. 431. Department informed by Spanish Embassy here that Angel Caso, Special Representative of Spanish Government near General Villa, now in Mexico City, threatened with arrest by Carranza forces. Please confer with appropriate authorities and point out to them the serious consequences that may result from the arrest of a diplomatic officer of a foreign government and strenuously protest against such action. Mr. Silliman may be of service in matter in view of his friendly relations with General Carranza. File No. 701.5212/2a. BRYAN. The Acting Secretary of State to the Brazilian Minister to Mexico. [Telegram.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, February 4, 1915. 436. Department informed by Spanish Ambassador that Obregon has informed Spanish Minister in Mexico that unless he produce and deliver Angel de Caso, who is in seclusion in Spanish Legation, within twenty-eight hours he will take Spanish Minister to Vera Cruz and deport him. Please lose no time in exercising your good offices and impress upon Obregon the dangerous consequences of such an act. At same time urge him take no summary action regarding de Caso. Keep Department advised concerning this situation. File No. 701.5212/3. LANSING. Special Agent Silliman to the Secretary of State. [Telegram-Extract.] MEXICO CITY, February 4, 1915. Acting upon the suggestion of the Secretary of State to the Brazilian Minister, I have telegraphed Carranza in behalf of Angi Caso. The result is very doubtful because the instruction to Obregon, which the Spanish Minister considers exceedingly offensive and even threat, came from Carranza himself by telegraph. The man in a confidential conversation with me three weeks ago voluntarily made very favorable expressions regarding Carranza. He is thought to be in the Spanish Legation but is not there and may escape arrest. SILLIMAN. |