Mr. Hay to Mr.
Clayton.
Department of State,
Washington
,
December 7,
1901
.
No. 613.]
Sir: I inclose herewith for your information a
copy of a letter from the Secretary of the Interior, and of a dispatch
from the United States consul at Ensenada, in relation to the enforced
enlistment in the Mexican army of Francisco Cuero, an Indian from the
Campo Indian Reservation, in California.
You will use your good offices to prevail on the Mexican Government to
discharge Cuero from further military service, if upon a further
investigation of his case the facts elicited will justify such
action.
I am, etc.,
[Inclosure 1.]
Mr. Hitchcock
to Mr. Hay.
Department of the Interior,
Washington
,
November 27,
1901
.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt of your communication of the 7th instant, and accompanying
copy of a dispatch from the consul at Ensenada, Mexico, in regard to
the enforced enlistment in the Mexican army of an Indian from the
Campo Indian Reservation, in California.
In response thereto I transmit herewith a copy of a report of the
25th instant, from the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, recommending,
in view of the statement made that Francisco Cuero is an American
Indian, that the ambassador to Mexico be requested to use his good
offices in prevailing on the Mexican authorities to discharge Cuero
from further military service if upon a further investigation of his
case the facts elicited will justify such action. The Commissioner’s
recommendation meets with my approval.
Very respectfully,
E. A. Hitchcock, Secretary.
[Subinclosure]
Mr. Jones to
Mr. Hitchcock.
Department of the Interior, Office of Indian
Affairs,
Washington
,
November 25,
1901
.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt, by Department reference for consideration, of a
communication dated November 7, 1901, from the Secretary of [Page 790] State, inclosing for your
information a copy of a dispatch from the United States consul at
Ensenada, Mexico, in regard to the enforced enlistment in the
Mexican army of an Indian named Francisco Cuero, from the Campo
Reservation, Cal.
The consul states that Cuero is in the barracks at Ensenada as a
volunteer in the Mexican army; that he is an American, as shown by
testimony of the people living at Campo, and that he belongs to that
reservation; that he was arrested about a year and a half ago by the
Mexican authorities and charged with smuggling two sacks of flour,
and was detained for a while without trial and liberated; that his
story is that immediately after his liberation he was compelled by
threats and fear of harm to enlist for five years in the military
service of Mexico; that he did not understand Spanish and was not
exactly aware of what he was doing, and hence became a soldier
against his inclination. Cuero’s age is stated by the consul to be
about 20 years.
The facts as stated by the consul coincide with those of the case of
Frank Serra, or Cuero, with regard to which this office communicated
with the Department on July 19, 1900. It was alleged that Serra had
been impressed into the Mexican army, and at the solicitation of
William Collier, esq., special attorney for the Mission Indians of
California, this office brought the matter to the attention of the
Department, with the recommendation that the papers in the case be
referred to the Secretary of State with the request that the
attention of the Mexican authorities be invited to it, and asked to
take the necessary steps to have the soldier discharged.
By Department reference, this office received a communication dated
September 26, 1900, from the Acting Secretary of State, inclosing a
copy of a dispatch from the ambassador to Mexico, wherein it was
stated that there was no soldier named Frank Serra in the military
company of the northern district of Lower California, at Ensenada,
but that one Francisco Cuero, or Cueros, appeared to be the
individual about whom inquiry was made by Special Attorney Collier;
that Cuero was said to be the son of the captain of the Manzanita
band of Indians of San Diego County, Cal.; that he was arrested for
smuggling and enlisted voluntarily in the Mexican military service.
It was further stated by the ambassador that Cuero has always lived
with his mother at Los Piscachos and other villages in said district
of Lower California.
In view of the ambassador’s statement this office took no further
action in Cuero’s case. From the consul’s dispatch it would seem not
unlikely that there is some truth in the Indian’s story regarding
his alleged forced enlistment, and under such circumstances it would
appear appropriate to again broach the matter to the Mexican
authorities.
It is recommended that the Secretary of State be requested to
instruct the ambassador to Mexico to use his good offices in
prevailing on said authorities to discharge Cuero from further
service if upon a further investigation of his case the facts
elicited will justify such action.
The communication from the Secretary of State is herewith returned
with a copy of this report.
Very respectfully, etc.,
W. A. Jones, Commissioner.
[Inclosure 2.]
Mr. Bailey to
the Department of State.
Consulate of the United States,
Ensenada
,
October 9, 1901
.
Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith
facts and information pertaining to a certain Francisco Cuero, an
Indian belonging to the Campo (California) Indian Reservation, who
is here in barracks as volunteer in Mexican army. The facts are that
said Francisco Cuero is an American by testimony of people living at
Campo, and that he belongs to that reservation. He was arrested
about a year and a half ago by Mexican authorities, charged with
smuggling two sacks of flour. He was kept a while without trial and
liberated. His story is that almost immediately he was induced by
threats and through fear to volunteer for five years’ service in the
Mexican army; that he did not understand Spanish and was not aware
of the exact import of what he was doing, and hence is a soldier
against his inclination. He is about 20 years of age.
I respectfully submit for your instructions. I have, etc.,
Everett E. Bailey, United States Consul.
