[Translation.]

Mr. Romero to Mr. Seward

Mr. Secretary: I have the honor to transmit to you the copy of a communication I have received from Mr. Lerdo de Tejada, minister of foreign relations of the Mexican republic, dated the 18th of January last, in Paso del Norte, marked No. 14, and annexed documents, from which it appears that Captain D. H. Brotherton, of the United States army, commanding at Fort Bliss, Texas, asked permission of the President of the Mexican republic, in the name of Colonel Edward E. Willis, commander of an expedition against the Apache Indians, and General James H. Carleton, commander of the district of New Mexico, to pass with his troops into Mexican territory, in case of necessity, in pursuit of the hostile Indians.

It appears from the same documents that the President of the Mexican republic granted the permission.

In communicating these facts to you as a new proof of the sentiments of friendship that animate the Mexican government towards the United States, it is pleasant to accept the opportunity that offers of renewing to you, Mr. Secretary, the assurances of my most distinguished consideration.

M. ROMERO.

Hon. William H. Seward, &c., &c., &c .

[Page 77]
No. 1.

[Translation.]

DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN RELATIONS AND GOVERNMENT—OFFICE OF RELATIONS-AMERICAN SECTION—No. 14.

Paso del Norte, January 18, 1866.

I send you a copy and translation of a communication addressed to me yesterday by Captain D. H. Brotherton, commander at Fort Bliss, Texas, stating that Colonel Edward B. Willis, commander of an expedition against the Apache Indians, at Fort Selden, New Mexico, had directed him, by order of the commander of the district, General James H. Carleton, to request permission from the President of the Mexican republic to pass with his troops into Mexico, across the division line, in case of necessity, in pursuit of the hostile Indians.

I also enclose you copies of the communications sent to-day to Colonel Willis and Captain Brotherton, informing them that the President had granted the permission.

I communicate this to you for your information, and that you may make it known to the Department of State of the United States.

Accept the protests of my attentive consideration.

LERDO DE TEJADA.

Citizen Matias Romero, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of the Mexican Republic in Washington, D. C.

No. 2.

Ministerio de relaciones esteriores y gobernacion.

Sir: I have the honor to state that I have received a communication from Colonel Edward B. Willis, first New Mexican infantry, United States volunteers, commanding expedition against Apache Indians, at Fort Selden, New Mexico, in which, by direction of the district commander, General James H. Carleton, United States army, he requests me to obtain from his Excellency President Juarez permission to pass over the line into Mexico with his troops, in case it should become necessary, when in pursuit of hostile Indians who commit depredations alike on the people of both countries.

If this application should meet with the approval of his Excellency the President, will you be kind enough to forward me the authority asked for at as early a moment as practicable?

I have the honor to be, with great respect, your obedient servant,

D. H. BROTHERTON, Capt. Fifth Infantry U. S. A., Com’dg Reg’t and Fort.

Hon. Sebastian Lerdo de Tejada, Minister of Foreign Affairs and of Government, Republic of Mexico, Paso del Norte, Mexico.

Es copia:

JUAN VALDEZ.

Paso del Norte, Enero 18 de 1866.

No. 3.

[Translation.]

MEXICAN REPUBLIC—SEAL OF THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN RELATIONS AND GOVERNMENT.

Paso del Norte, January 18, 1866.

Sir: Captain D. H. Brotherton, of the fifth United States infantry, commander of Fort Bliss, Texas, informed me in his communication yesterday that you, as commander of the expedition against the Apache Indians, at Fort Selden, New Mexico, and by order of the commander of the district, General James H. Carleton, of the United States army, had asked permission of the President of the Mexican republic to pass over the boundary line with your troops into Mexican territory, in case of necessity, to pursue the hostile Indians.

The government of the Mexican republic does not doubt that General Carleton ordered you to ask this permission, as he has command of the campaign against the Apaches; and if he waited for instructions from Washington upon the subject, the great distance might cause a delay injurious to military operations; therefore, the government of Mexico finds no [Page 78] inconvenience in granting the permission, in consideration of the friendly relations existing between the two republics, and knowing it is a campaign against hostile Indians that are committing depredations to the injury of both countries.

For these reasons the President of the Mexican republic has charged me to say to you in this communication that you may have the permission to pass the boundary line into Mexican territory with your troops, in case it may be necessary to pursue the Apache Indians in the expedition you command against them.

Your most respectful and obedient servant,

S. LERDO DE TEJADA.

Edward B. Willis, First U. S. Vol. Inf. in New Mexico, Commander of the Expedition against the Apache Indians, Fort Selden, New Mexico.

No. 4.

[Translation.]

MEXICAN REPUBLIC—SEAL OF THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN RELATIONS AND GOVERNMENT.

Paso del Norte, January 18, 1866.

Sir: I received your communication of yesterday, informing me that Colonel Edward B. Willis, of the first United States volunteer infantry of New Mexico, commanding the expedition against the Apache Indians at Fort Selden, New Mexico, had directed you, by order of the commander of the district, General James H. Carleton, of the United States army, to request permission of the President of the Mexican republic to allow you to pass the boundary line with your troops into Mexican territory, if necessary, in pursuit of those hostile Indians.

The President of the republic has no objection to grant the permission, and so expresses himself in the annexed communication to Colonel Willis, which I send unsealed, that you may see its contents.

Your most respectful and obedient servant,

S. LERDO DE TEJADA.

Captain D. H. Brotherton, Fifth Reg’t U. S. Inf., Commander at Fort Bliss, Texas.

True copies:

JUAN VALDEZ, First Officer.

Paso del Norte, January 18, 1866.