No. 464.
Mr. Evarts
to Mr. Foster.
Department
of State,
Washington, March 1,
1880.
No. 727.]
Sir: The copies herewith inclosed of a letter
addressed to me by the Secretary of War, under date of the 25th ultimo, and
of a note of this date, written by m e to the Mexican minister at this
capital, Señor de Zamacona, will acquaint you with the decision of this
government to consider the instructions contained in the order of June 1,
1877, from the War Department, contemplating and providing for a direction
to General E. O. C. Ord, that under certain circumstances therein set forth
he might pursue raiders across the border into the Republic of Mexico for
the purpose of punishing them and recapturing stolen property, as no longer
operative.
This signal proof of the President’s conviction that the Mexican Government
is in a position to insure the full protection of life and property on the
borders, lately the scene of marauding incursions, is but another of the
many recent evidences of the good-will existing between the two
republics.
I am, &c.,
[Inclosure 1 in No. 727.]
Mr. Ramsey to Mr.
Evarts.
War
Department,
Washington
City, February 25,
1880. (Received February 26.)
Sir: I have the honor to inclose for your
information copy of my letter of the 24th instant to the General of the
Army, informing him that he is to consider the instructions of the order
of June 1, 1877, issued to him by this Department, which contemplate and
provide for a direction to General Ord, that under certain circumstances
therein set forth he may pursue raiders across the border for the
purpose of punishing them,, as well as recapturing stolen property, as
no longer in force.
Very respectfully, &c.,
ALEX. RAMSEY,
Secretary of
War.
[Inclosure in inclosure in No.
727.]
War
Department,
Washington
City, February 24,
1880.
General: General E. O. C. Ord, commanding the
Department of Texas, having; stated in his annual report that the
condition of affairs which rendered necessary the
[Page 736]
order of June 1, 1877, to cross the border
between the United States and Mexico, in his opinion, no longer exists,
as the Mexican Government has shown its ability and determination to put
a stop to the invasions of the United States which gave rise to it, and
such recommendation of General Ord having been considered by the
President in connection with other information in possession of the
government to the same effect, the President desires to recognize in
this well-proved ability of the Mexican Government to restrain
effectively violations of our territory a proper occasion to accommodate
your instructions to the present condition of things on this border.
You are therefore to consider the instructions of the order of June 1,
1877, issued to you by this Department, which contemplate and provide
for a direction to General Ord, that under certain circumstances therein
set forth he may pursue raiders across the border for the purpose of
punishing them as well as recapturing stolen property, as no longer in
force.
You will therefore instruct General Ord to, this effect, and desire him
to communicate this information to the Mexican military authorities
along the border, enjoining also upon General Ord the utmost vigilance
on his side of the line, and a prompt report of any change of action or
disposition on the part of the Mexican military force that may endanger
the permanence and security of the present peaceful situation on the
border.
Very respectfully, &c.,
ALEX. RAMSEY,
Secretary of
War.
[Inclosure 2 in No. 727.]
Mr. Evarts to Mr.
Zamacona.
Department of State,
Washington, March 1,
1880.
Sir: It affords me pleasure to herewith
communicate to you for the information of your government, a copy of a
letter addressed on the 24th instant by the Secretary of War to the
General of the Army, informing him that he is to consider the
instructions contained in the order of June 1, 1877, from the War
Department, contemplating and providing for a direction to General E. O.
C. Ord, that, under certain circumstances therein set forth, he might
pursue raiders across the border into the Republic of Mexico for the
purpose of punishing them, and recapturing stolen property, as no longer
operative, and directing him to so advise General Ord.
It has afforded much satisfaction to the President to find in the actual
situation upon the borders, in the undisturbed security against violence
that has for some time been maintained there, in the spirit and conduct
of the military efforts made by Mexico to observe its international
obligations in preventing invasions of our territory, and in the
judgment of our own military authorities that the order of June 1, 1877,
need no longer be kept in operation, good grounds for the action
indicated in his last message to Congress, and now taken.
I sincerely hope that no future occurrences upon the border may disturb
the present cordial relations now established between the two
countries.
Be pleased to accept, &c.
