No. 427.
Mr. Romero to Mr. Frelinghuysen.
Boston, April 11, 1883. (Received April 23.)
My Dear Mr. Frelinghuysen: I have had the pleasure to receive your note of the 9th instant, whereby you were pleased to acknowledge the receipt of the memorandum which I addressed to you on the 9th [Page 689] ultimo, in which I repeated the request that I had made verbally, on that same day, in the name of my Government, viz, that you would be pleased to answer the note of this legation of January 20,1883, relative to the depredations of Indians on the frontier. You were pleased to inform me that, as my note of January 20 was an informal one, of a personal character, addressed to you, transmitting a statement addressed to the Government of Mexico by the representatives and senators of Chihuahua, you had adopted the same informal and personal method for your reply.
You were pleased, in conclusion, to enter into general considerations touching the situation of both countries as regards the savage Indians in the border States, and to make certain statements in reply to that of the representatives and senators of the State o£ Chihuahua.
Thinking, as I do, that abstract discussions of this question must be barren of results, since, in my opinion, it constitutes an evil which is common to both Republics, to which both are most deeply interested in putting to as speedy an end as possible, I refrain from any reflections concerning the manner in which each has endeavored to fulfill its duties in this matter towards its own citizens, and towards a neighboring friendly nation, although the course pursued by Mexico would, in such an examination, appear in a highly favorable light.
Confining myself to the practical adjustment of this question, now that the Governments of both countries are actuated by friendly sentiments which have already led them to take an important step towards the final settlement of this matter, viz, the conclusion of the agreement signed July 29,1882, whereby the crossing of troops is authorized from the territory of the one to that of the other, I think it will be well for us to continue in such a course; and since you have been pleased to inform me that, in your judgment, one of the most effective means to secure the result desired by both would be the adoption by each Government of such measures as may be necessary to prevent in its territory the sale of booty taken in that of the other, I will thank you, if you have no objection, to inform me whether, in your opinion, each Government should, independently, adopt such measures for that purpose as it may deem suitable, or whether these measures should form the subject of an international convention, and, in the latter case, what measures the United States Government considers adapted to the attainment of so important objects.
Very truly, yours,