No. 338.
Mr. Foster
to Mr. Evarts
.
Legation of
the United States,
Mexico
,
January 17, 1878.
(Received February 1.)
No. 662.]
Sir: I have to acknowledge receipt this morning of
your dispatch No. 439, of the 2d instant, with which you inclose a
communication from the Secretary of War, containing copy of General Ord’s
report of Lieutenant Ward’s expedition and as to the co-operation of Mexican
troops in the pursuit of raiders on the Rio Grande frontier.
This report of General Ord had already appeared in the Mexican newspapers and
had been very bitterly commented upon. The occurrence as reported was
denounced as a new invasion of Mexican territory, and the exemplary
punishment of the Mexican officer who invited the crossing of the American
troops was demanded at the hands of the Diaz government.
On yesterday the Diario Official published officially the correspendence
between the Secretaries of Foreign Affairs and of War on the subject, of [Page 541] which I inclose copies and
translations, and also of the editorial comment thereon in the same paper.
It will he seen that the Secretary of Foreign Affairs transmits a copy of
General Ord’s report in reference to Lieutenant Ward’s expedition, as
published in the newspapers, to the Secretary of War, and characterizes the
crossing of the Rio Grande by Ward’s troops as a “new invasion of the
national territory.” He states that the President regards the act as of the
greatest gravity, and directs that the necessary measures be taken in view
of it. The Secretary of War thereupon sends instructions to General Treviño,
commanding the Mexican forces on the Rio Grande, to make immediate
investigation, in order to ascertain who was the officer that permitted and
aided the passage of the American troops to Mexican territory; and again
enjoining upon General Treviño the strict enforcement of the orders of June
18 last, to repel with force the crossing of American troops into Mexican
territory. The editorial comment upon these communications states that “the
Executive is resolved to make a severe example of the officer who may have
failed to obey the instructions.”
These publications made it almost useless and inopportune for me to express
to Mr. Vallarta your gratification at the spirit manifested by the Mexican
officers to Lieutenant Ward, and your view of the happy results which would
follow the continuance of such a spirit. However, in calling upon Mr.
Vallarta to-day, to advise him of my expected departure for Washington, I
took occasion to refer to the event, and to say that I had received from you
a copy of General Ord’s official telegram, which I handed him. I also
expressed regret that the event had been so differently interpreted in the
two republics and by the two governments. In the United States, it was
hailed as a manifestation of a friendly spirit of co-operation on the part
of the troops of both countries to repress depredations on the Rio Grande,
and as an important step toward renewing official relations; and in Mexico
it was denounced as an invasion of territory, an outrage upon its national
sovereignty, and the Mexican officer who permitted and participated in the
pursuit of the outlaws as deserving only of military and presidential
condemnation and punishment. I characterized the issuance of the official
orders on the subject as highly inopportune in view of the existing state of
our relations, and as likely to be construed in the United States as the
manifestation of a hostile spirit on the part of the present authorities of
Mexico.
Mr. Vallarta had very little to say in reply, further than that the officer
who invited the crossing of Lieutenant Ward had violated the instructions of
the department of war, and that the Executive felt compelled to issue the
orders published in the Diario Oficial of yesterday, in view of the clamor
which had been raised by the press of this capital about the affair.
I am, &c.,
[Inclosure 1 in No.
662.—Translation.]
Communications between the Secretaries of Foreign
Affairs and of War.
[From Diario Oficial, January 16, 1878.]
mexican republic, department of
foreign affairs—section of america.
In compliance with the desire of the President, I transmit to you a
translation of a paragraph from the New York Herald of December 25 last.
It contains a dispatch from General Ord to the general-in-chief of the
North American Army, in which it is [Page 542] stated that a new invasion of the national
territory took place on the 20th of that month, not only with the
acquiescence, hut even by invitation of a Mexican official.
This act being of the greatest gravity, the President instructs me to
bring it to your knowledge, in order that, through your department, he
may proceed to take such steps as shall be necessary.
Liberty in the constitution.
Mexico, January 12,
1878.
VALLARTA.
The Secretary of War, Present.
mexican republic, department of foreign
affairs.
Washington
,
December 25,
1877.
New York Herald article of December
25, 1877.
pursuit of raiders—troops of the
united states and mexicans follow a fresh trail in mexico—good
understanding between the soldiers.
The following has been received in the War Department this afternoon:
“Chicago, Ill., December 24, 1877. (Received 10.55
a.m.)
“General E. D.
Townsend,
“Washington, D.
C.:
“The following telegram from General Ord is forwarded for the
information of the General of the Army.
“P. H. SHERIDAN,
“Lieutenant-General.
“‘Lieutenant Ward was sent to Rio Grande to find trail of horses
stolen and driven into Mexico on 15th instant. Has just come in.
The Mexican troops got to the river on morning of 20th. Ward
showed the Mexican lieutenant the trail, and at his invitation
crossed his men and joined the Mexican troops. They followed the
trail together all day, going about twenty-five miles. As it had
rained heavily, the trail was hard to follow, and another hard
rain setting in, they found it impossible to follow it farther.
The trail was left about three miles from Newtown, and only six
or eight miles below where it crossed the river.
“‘Ward says there was perfect good feeling among the Mexican
soldiers and our own, and that the lieutenant offered to go with
him anywhere he thought the horses could be found.
“‘ORD,
“‘Brigadier-General.’”
Mexico
,
January 12,
1878.
A copy.
JOSÉ FERNANDEZ,
Chief
Clerk.
department of war and marine.—section
1.
The Citizen Minister of Foreign Affairs in a communication of the 12th
instant states the following to this department:
“In compliance with the desire of the President, I transmit to you a
translation of a paragraph from the New York Herald of December 25
last,” &c.
Which I transmit to you, accompanied by a copy of the document cited, in
order that the corresponding investigation may be made at once, for the
purpose of ascertaining who the officer was that permitted and aided the
passage of American troops to our territory, and in order that the
proper resolution may be formed concerning those who are found guilty,
giving a report of the result of the investigation.
The Citizen President instructs me to recommend to you anew that strict
fulfillment be given to the orders issued by this department on the 18th
of June last, in view of the order given by the Department of War of the
United States to General Ord on the 1st of the same month and year.
Liberty and constitution.
Mexico, January 14,
1878.
OGAZON
.
The Citizen
Geronimo Trevino,
Monterey.
[Page 543]
department of war and marine.—section
1.
Under this date your note of the 12th instant is transmitted to the
Citizen General, Geronimo Treviño, accompanied by the translation to
which it refers, in order that he may make at once the corresponding
investigation, in order to ascertain who the official was that permitted
and aided the passage of American forces to our territory, as is stated
in the dispatch of General Ord to the general-in-chief of the North
American. Army, and to the end that the proper resolution may be formed
concerning those who are found guilty, with the understanding that the
said General Treviño be recommended anew to cause the strict fulfillment
of the orders issued by this department on the 18th of June last year,
in view of the order given by the Department of War of the United States
to General Ord on the 1st of the same month. I have the honor to state
it to you for your information.
Liberty and constitution.
Mexico, January 14,
1878.
OGAZON.
The Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Present.
Mexico
,
January 15,
1878.
True copies.
JOSÉ JUSTO ALVAREZ,
Chief
Clerk.
[Inclosure 2 in No.
662.—Translation.]
Important communications.
[From Diario Oficial, January 16,
1878.]
In the official column our readers will see the communications addressed
by the department of foreign affairs to that of war, and also to General
Treviño, in relation to the passage of American troops to our territory.
The executive is resolved to make a severe example of the officer who
may have failed to obey the instructions which should control the
conduct of the forces which guard the frontier.
