Mr. Gresham to Mr. Romero.
Washington, January 24, 1894.
Sir: I have the honor to inform you that the Department has received for its consideration a copy of the rules adopted by the Boundary [Page 412] Commission organized under the convention of March 1, 1889, between the United States and Mexico.
Colonel Mills, the American commissioner, in his letter written from El Paso transmitting these rules, says that he desired the adoption of a rule by which the commission could proceed at once upon its approval to mark the international bridges as provided in Article iv of the convention of 1884.
The Mexican commissioner objected to this, being of the opinion that no action as to marking the line on the bridges can be taken until both Governments provide therefor.
The American commissioner suggests that both Governments should at once by telegraph give instructions to their respective commissioners to mark the line on the bridges “for two important reasons: First, that of definite jurisdiction over crimes and disorders on the bridge?, all of them much traveled and several hundred yards long, and, second, being now on the ground, to mark them will occupy but a few hours, whereas if we have to return here from the lower river for that purpose it will be at an expense of several hundred dollars and loss of much time.”
Colonel Mills’s suggestions strike me as forcible, and I should be very glad if you would call to-morrow at the Department in order that we may, if possible, arrange to have the bridges marked as proposed by him.
Accept, etc.,