No. 470.
Mr. Blaine
to Mr. Morgan.
Department
of State,
Washington, August 18,
1881.
No. 163.]
Sir: Referring to instructions Nos. 156 and 158 of
the 27th ultimo and 5th instant, respectively, relative to the extension of
the “zona libre,” I now transmit, for your further information, a copy of a
letter
[Page 798]
of the 8th of this month
from Senator Coke, of Texas, in which he presents certain considerations
against the extension feared. The petition accompanying the letter of Mr.
Coke, being identical with the one heretofore sent to you, has, for that
reason, been omitted.
I am, &c.,
[Inclosure in No. 163.]
Senator Coke to Mr
Blaine.
Waco,
Tex., August 8,
1881.
Sir: The inclosed statement from citizens of
Texas will explain itself, and is respectfully commended to your
attention. The subject is an important one not only to Texas but to the
whole country. The creation of the “zona libre” on the west bank of the
Rio Grande has had the effect to destroy local American commerce on that
river, to diminish greatly customs revenues, to promote smuggling, and,
by attracting there large numbers of bad men who engage in that unlawful
business, to add greatly to the lawlessness of that border. Heretofore
the “zona libre” has been confined to the Lower Rio Grande. Its
extension will surely subject the country on the Upper Rio Grande to the
same evils which for years have afflicted the lower country, and which
for a time were so grave as seriously to threaten a rupture between the
United States and the Republic of Mexico.
I am fully aware of the difficulty attending an interference with what
appears on the surface to be a measure of domestic Mexican policy, and
the delicacy, in view of the great interests, present and prospective,
dependent upon cordial relations between the United States and Mexico,
with which the subject must be treated, yet I believe that without
offense to Mexico such representations may be made by our government to
the Government of Mexico on this subject as will place in a clear light
the injustice to our government and people of the obnoxious measure and
thereby prevent its adoption, if the intention now exists or may likely
be formed of adopting it.
Knowing that you will give the subject the attention its great importance
demands,
I am, &c., your obedient servant,
