[Translation.]
Mr. Romero to Mr.
Seward
Mexican Legation in the United
States of America, Washington,
February 18, 1866.
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.
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.
Citizen Matias Romero, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of the
Mexican Republic in Washington, D. C.
No. 2.
Ministerio de relaciones esteriores y gobernacion.
Headquarters Fort Bliss,
Texas,
January 17, 1866.
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:
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,
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.
