No. 430.
Mr. Romero to Mr. Frelinghuysen.
Washington, April 26, 1883. (Received April 27.)
Mr. Secretary: Referring to the note which I had the honor to address to you yesterday, in reply to that from your Department of the preceding day, I have the honor to state to you that this afternoon I have received the reply of the secretary of foreign relations of Mexico, to the telegram I sent to him yesterday acquainting him with the addition which the War Department of the United States proposes to make to the convention which we signed in this city on the 29th July, 1882, authorizing the reciprocal passage of the frontier by troops in pursuit of revolted Indians.
The secretary of state for foreign affairs of the United Mexican States tells me in reply that the President of the Republic cannot modify the aforesaid arrangement without a fresh authorization thereto from the Chamber of Senators, whose assent, whether prior or subsequent, is indispensable to give validity to any agreement made with a foreign nation which might authorize the passage of its troops into Mexican territory. The secretary for foreign relations adds that he awaits full knowledge of the modifications proposed by the Government of the United States, in order to decide upon the suitable course; and he states that the Mexican secretary of war has already made explanatory orders for that convention, in a liberal sense.
Having forwarded to the secretary for foreign relations of the Mexican Government a copy of your note of the 24th instant, setting forth the modifications which the Government of the United States desires to be made in the aforesaid convention, I trust that they will be taken into consideration when the copy to which I refer shall reach Mexico.
I embrace, &c.,