No. 438.
Mr. Fish
to Mr. Foster.
Washington, May 20, 1875.
Sir: Your dispatch No. 279, of the 4th instant, relative to Mexican raids In Texas, has been received. The assurances of a disposition on the part of that government to check them, which have been given to you by Mr. Lafragua, are satisfactory, so far as they go. Those maraudings, however, have of late been so frequent, bold, and destructive, that they have occasioned much excitement in the public on this side the river, which will probably lead to an expectation that acts on the part [Page 925] of that government will show the sincerity of its professions. We are informed that a few of the raiders have been arrested on the Mexican side, and that probably they are on the way to the capital for trial. It is hoped that, if the proof should warrant their conviction, they will receive a full measure of punishment according to law, so that their fate may serve as an example for deterring imitators.
I am aware of no purpose here of acquiring an extension of territory on that frontier. If, however, as has been suggested to us, that government is embarrassed by the risk of desertions in sending a regular force to that quarter, it might not be indisposed to allow United States troops to cross and temporarily occupy the territory whence the raiders are in the habit of coming. The tract for such occupation might be embraced in a line drawn from Matamoras to Laredo. You will consequently sound the minister for foreign affairs on this point, and report the result.
It may be regarded as frivolous to seek to justify the hostile incursions into our territory on the ground of retaliation for similar excursions from this side. There have been none such, and proof of the contrary is challenged. Indeed, the charge is improbable on its face, from the fact that Mexico, near the border, holds out no temptation to plunderers from this side, while the reverse is the case in respect to baits in Texas for Mexicans.
I am, &c.,