No. 491.
Mr. Evarts to Señor de
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 ultimo 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 circumstance 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.
[Page 782]
[Inclosure.]
Mr. Ramsey to
Mr. Sherman.
War
Department,
Washington, 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 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,
ALEX. RAMSEY.
Secretary of
War.
