No. 226.
Mr. Foster
to Mr. Evarts.
Mexico, June 20, 1877. (Received July 16.)
Sir: Yesterday afternoon I called, by appointment, at the foreign office (having been unable on the day previous to find the minister in the department) and read to Mr. Vallarta the greater portion of Mr. Seward’s dispatch No. 390, of the 16th ultimo, on the subject of the recognition of the government of General Diaz. After the reading a lengthy conversation followed. Mr. Vallarta insisted that the government of General Diaz possessed all the conditions of recognition required by international law and the practice of nations, and as a proof of this cited the fact that the European powers represented in Mexico as well as Central American republics, had already recognized the present government, leaving the United States in a singular and independent position, which he sought to explain by the Unfriendly attitude of the administration of President Hayes. He claimed that the present Government of Mexico had manifested every possible disposition to comply with the obligations of treaty and comity toward the United States; that it had promptly paid the first installment on the Mexico claims awards under the most difficult circumstances; and that it had held itself ready to give all reasonable guarantees for the preservation of peace on the frontier and for the protection of American interests in Mexico; but as he (Mr. Vallarta) had stated to me on other occasions, the adjustment of these questions would properly follow recognition, especially where they required treaty stipulations.
Mr. Vallarta expressed regret that there had been an apparent change in the policy of the Government of the United States with the advent of the new administration; that Mr. Fish had interposed no objection to the receipt of the claims installment from the de facto government, and there appeared to have been good reason to believe that with the inauguration of General Diaz as constitutional president, he wou4d be recognized as such by the United States as he had been by the European nations. He claimed to have had private advices from New York and Washington that the present administration had been operated upon by the machinations of ex-President Lerdo and certain American gentlemen who had personal and sinister purposes to accomplish, and that it had yielded too readily to the representations of General Ord, who was an annexationist and seeking to precipitate a war between the two countries.
Mr. Vallarta then referred with much feeling to the order of June 1 of the Secretary of War to General Sherman, containing the instructions to General Ord. He said that when the substance of the order was telegraphed to the government here it refused to believe that it was true, because it could not comprehend that the United States would manifest such a hostile and aggressive attitude toward Mexico, especially without any previous notice of its intention. The government therefore awaited the arrival of the mail with much interest, hoping to be advised that the telegraphic account was untrue or exaggerated. But by this medium the hostile attitude of the government at Washington was fully confirmed. He said that in discharge of a solemn duty, the Mexican secretary of war had issued orders to General Treviño and the northern division of the army to repair at once to the frontier of the Rio Grande, and then gave me the instructions embraced in [Page 411] said order. He hoped for the preservation of peace, and General Treviño was instructed to exert himself to maintain it, but if the orders to General Ord were carried out and Mexican territory were violated, the consequences might be of the gravest character. Mr. Vallarta said that Secretary McCrary in his order to General Sherman had disregarded all the rules of international law and the practices of civilized nations, and treated the Mexicans as savages, as Kaffirs of Africa; that an absolute declaration of war would have been more considerate, as the national honor and the sovereign rights of the republic would not in that way have been so completely disregarded.
If through diplomatic channels notice had been given to Mexico of an ultimatum regarding the frontier, and it had then neglected to render satisfaction to the United States, there might be occasion to consider the propriety of issuing orders such as those given to General Ord; but, in the manner in which the orders had been issued, the cabinet at Washington had sought to place Mexico beyond the pale of civilized nations. The government, he said, had just received intelligence from General Trevino that, upon the invitation of General Ord, he had gone to the frontier to hold a conference with him, and that General Trevino had been advised of the desire of the government that he should co-operate with the American troops in suppressing the raids, but that it would never permit its territory to be violated by American troops, in the manner indicated in the order of Secretary McCrary, without repelling them by force of arms. No government could stand in Mexico for a moment against the popular indignation, if it did not assume this attitude.
I answered Mr. Vallarta that, so far as recognition was concerned, every nation must be its own judge as to the time and manner of accepting a new and revolutionary government as the only representative of the people over whom it claimed to be established.
The Secretary of State, in the dispatch which I had just read, had confirmed the assurance which I gave him months ago, that the United States did not seek to intervene in the internal politics of Mexico; but he had also expressed the deep interest which the United States felt in the stability of whatever government it might recognize in this republic, and the desire it had to know of its ability and its disposition to comply with its international obligations both on the frontier and toward American citizens and interests within the country.
The position of the United States toward Mexico was very different from that of the European nations which had recognized General Diaz. We have a long line of coterminous territory, the peace and order of which is very intimately connected with the internal character of the Government of Mexico. The adjoining coasts on both oceans cause our commercial relations and social intercourse to be more seriously affected by the violent changes of its administrations than those of European nations. The interests of American citizens in Mexico are more important. Our treaties are more numerous, and embrace a greater variety of obligations.
For these and other reasons not experienced by European nations the United States are interested in knowing the spirit which animates and the stability which is likely to attend any new government in this country.
If the government of General Diaz has not up to the present time been recognized by that of the United States, it is owing to its own neglect of plain duties. Mr. Vallarta will remember that six months ago, soon after entering the foreign office, I called his attention to the critical condition of affairs on the Rio Grande frontier, and stated that [Page 412] they more seriously threatened the peace of the two countries than any and all other matters. I referred to the raids into Texas by Mexican banditti, the ravages of the Indians, and the annoyance of the “Zona Libre.”
There had been no change of policy on the part of the Government of the United States with the change of administration, as he (Mr. Vallarta) unjustly and I thought inconsiderately asserted.
The receipt by Mr. Fish of the first installment of the claims-award could not be cited as any indication of the intention of my government to recognize that of General Diaz, as Mr. Vallarta would remember that it was expressly understood between us before the commissioner left Mexico to make the payment that its receipt was not to involve the question of recognition in any manner. The records of the Mexican foreign office will show that the present policy of my government as to the frontier is the same as that assumed or foreshadowed during all my residence in Mexico. Early in March last I conveyed to him the contents of a dispatch from Mr. Fish, in which the impression was expressed that the United States, prior to deciding in favor of official recognition of the Diaz government, would expect that efficient measures would be taken toward checking inroads into their States and territories, and toward the repeal of the “Zona Libre.” (See Department dispatch No. 370.) I have lost no opportunity in the past six months to bring the subject of the Texas border to his (Mr. Vallarta’s) attention. I have been assured of the good intentions of General Diaz’s government, but up to the date of the order of Secretary McCrary absolutely nothing had been done in that direction, so far as I was informed.
Referring to Mr. Vallarta’s remark concerning the influence and motives which caused the issuance of the order of Secretary McCrary, and the interpretation which he placed upon the order, I expressed my regret in seeing that Mr. Vallarta partook so fully of the popular feeling and prejudice which was manifesting itself in the city. I was sorry he should give so much consequence to the reports which reached him from the United States, as to the influence which interested private citizens and exiled Mexicans had upon the cabinet at Washington. I asked him how he knew that General Ord was an annexationist, and seeking to precipitate a war. He said that such were the reports which he had received. I replied that if they were official reports my government was entitled to know their basis. He said they were merely rumors. I answered that he should not then accept them as facts, without further inquiry. General Ord, I said, was one of our most distinguished generals, and had been Selected for the important post which he occupied on the frontier on account of his prudence and ability, and that such charges against him were unworthy of consideration, in the form in which they came. Mr. Vallarta disclaimed any intention to charge him with improper conduct, and only mentioned the rumors as part of the current news connected with the Rio Grande.
I then entered into a review of the history of the Rio Grande frontier as it had passed under my observation during the past four years, noticing the following points: 1st. The instruction to General Ord is not the announcement of a new measure on the part of the Government of the United States. 2d. The depredations of the past four years have not been common to both sides of the frontier. 3d. Mexico has taken no adequate or vigorous measures to prevent the depredations or punish outlaws. 4th. Mexico has frequently acknowledged its inability to discharge its duty in regard to the preservation of peace on the Rio Grande frontier, giving as a reason its internal dissensions. 5th. The instructions [Page 413] to General Ord are misinterpreted by the Mexican Government; and 6th, in view of the foregoing facts, the declaration of the Mexican minister of war is unwarranted wherein it is asserted that the instructions to General Ord are in contradiction with treaties between the United States and Mexico, with the rules of international law, and even with the practice of civilized nations.
These points will be referred to at greater length in a subsequent dispatch. (See my dispatch No. 560.)
In connection with the embarrassments attending border affairs, I referred to the fact that the governors of all the Mexican States on the Rio Grande were regarded as hostile to the United States. The reputation of Governor Canales, of Tamaulipas, was notorious in both countries. Governor Charles, of Coahuila, was in open opposition to the American officials, as was evidenced by the arrest of the guides of the American troops. General Trias, just elected governor of Chihuahua, in a recent letter to a newspaper of this city, has, over his own signature, manifested his hostile sentiments.
Before taking my leave of Mr. Vallarta I said that this government appeared at least to be awakened to the importance and gravity of the condition of affairs between the two countries, although I feared not in the best temper for a calm consideration of them.
I was ready to take all or any of the pending questions up for examination in detail, with a view to adjusting them. Mr. Vallarta expressed himself as quite desirous of entering upon this examination, and requested that I should indicate the subjects, and solicited suggestions from me.
I promised to call to-morrow at the foreign office and submit to him some memoranda for his consideration.
I am, &c.,