Ambassador Thompson
to the Secretary of State.
American Embassy,
Mexico, January 16,
1907.
No. 395.]
Sir: As a complement of my dispatch No. 374,
dated December 26 last,a
relative to the release of the American fishing vessels Silas Stearns, Lizzie B. Adams, and D. L. Trafton, I inclose herewith copies and
translations of notes from the foreign office and copies of my replies
thereto relative to the last proceedings had in the district courts for
the States of Yucatan and Veracruz concerning the delivery of said
vessels to the person authorized by the companies to receive them.
I also inclose copies and translations of a note from the foreign office
and of its annexed interrogatories, prepared by the district court of
Yucatan, proposed to be put to the masters of the vessels above referred
to by such judicial authorities of the United States as the department
may direct. In this connection I have informed [Page 1105] the foreign office that said
interrogatories would be transmitted, so soon as translated into the
English language, to the department, with the request that they be
returned to the embassy when properly executed by the deponents.
As stated in my previous dispatch, the release of the vessels is
practically the end of the suit, but before the records of the same can
be closed by a definitive decision the above interrogatories should be,
after proper execution, in possession of the district court of
Yucatan.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure
1.—Translation.]
The Minister for Foreign
Affairs to Ambassador Thompson.
Department of Foreign Affairs,
Mexico, January 3, 1907.
Mr. Ambassador: Referring to correspondence
relative to the matter of the fishing vessels, I have the honor to
transmit to your excellency herewith copy of a communication
addressed to me by the attorney-general of the Republic, advising me
of the coming delivery, under bond, of the captured vessels, as
ordered by the proper judge.
I renew, etc.,
[Subinclosure.—Translation.]
The Attorney-General of the
Republic to the Secretary for
Foreign Affairs.
(On the margin, a seal reading:) Attorney-General of Mexico.
The prosecuting attorney before the federal district court at Merida,
Yucatan, informed this office by a telegram dated yesterday as
follows:
“Respectfully advise you that by next mail the district court of
Yucatan will address that of Veracruz in order that it authorize the
delivery of the American fishing vessels to the person designated by
the attorney of the owners of the same, which delivery was decided
yesterday after Licentiate Elias Amabilis gave the proper bond, and
under the responsibility of the companies owning said vessels.”
Which I have the honor to transmit to that department under your
worthy charge, for your information and in reference to previous
correspondence from this office relative to the same subject.
I assure you of my consideration.
Mexico, December 22,
1906.
Rafael Rebollar.
[Inclosure 2.]
Ambassador Thompson to the Minister for
Foreign Affairs.
American Embassy,
Mexico, January 8,
1907.
Mr. Minister: Permit me to thank your
excellency for your kind note of the 3d instant, with which you have
been pleased to accompany copy of a communication from the
attorney-general of Mexico advising you that the delivery of the
American fishing vessels captured off the coast of Campeche will
soon be made, under bond, in accordance with the decision pronounced
to that end by the judge who has the case in hand.
Renewing to you my deep appreciation for your excellency’s good
offices in this matter, it affords me pleasure to assure you of my
high consideration.
[Page 1106]
[Inclosure
3.—Translation.]
The Minister for Foreign
Affairs to Ambassador Thompson.
Department of Foreign Affairs,
Mexico, January 8, 1907.
Mr. Ambassador: Referring to my note of the
3d instant, relative to the delivery of the American fishing vessels
captured within Mexican waters on account of poaching, I have the
honor to inclose copy of a communication received from the
attorney-general of the Republic, transmitting a telegram from the
federal prosecuting attorney near the district court of Veracruz, in
which he states that the port master of said place has already been
directed to deliver the vessels to Mr. Frank P. Caballero.
I renew, etc.,
[Subinclosure.—Translation.]
The Attorney-General of the
Republic to the Secretary for
Foreign Affairs.
Office of the attorney-general of the Republic of Mexico.
The federal prosecuting attorney near the district court of Veracruz
informs this office by a telegram dated yesterday as follows:
“I have the honor to advise you that requisition was received from
Yucatan relative to the delivery of fishing vessels, and under day
before yesterday’s date the port master was directed to deliver
vessels to Frank P. Caballero. Port master advises me delivery will
be made to-morrow agreeable with Frank P. Caballero.”
Which I have the honor to transmit to you for the information of the
department under your worthy charge, and as a result of the
communication issued out of the bureau of America, Asia, and
Oceanica, under No. 1191, of the 3d instant.
I renew, etc.,
Rafael Rebollar.
Mexico, January 7,
1907.
[Inclosure 4.]
Ambassador Thompson to the Minister for
Foreign Affairs.
American Embassy,
Mexico, January 10,
1907.
Mr. Minister: I have the pleasure to
acknowledge the receipt of your excellency’s courteous note, dated
the 8th instant, relating to the delivery of the American fishing
vessels captured within Mexican waters in the month of April, 1906,
with which you were pleased to transmit to me copy of a
communication from the attorney-general of Mexico advising you that
he has received a telegram from the federal district attorney near
the district court of the State of Veracruz, stating that the port
master of Veracruz was directed to deliver said vessels to Mr. Frank
P. Caballero.
This practically ends the above lamentable affair and affords me the
opportunity to say to your excellency how sincerely I appreciate
your good offices in the matter as well as the magnanimous attitude
taken by all the officials of the Mexican Government who have been
directly connected with the proceedings in the case.
I renew, etc.,
[Inclosure
5.—Translation.]
The Minister for Foreign
Affairs to Ambassador Thompson.
Department of Foreign Affairs,
Mexico, January 9, 1907.
Mr. Ambassador: According to your
excellency’s desire I have the honor to inclose herewith the
interrogatoriesa
prepared by the district judge of Yucatan, [Page 1107] in conformity with which should
be examined Alex Linoberry, Giovani Malfitano, and Chas. Spahlding,
masters, respectively, of the vessels D. L.
Trafton, Silas Stearns, and Lizzie B.
Adams.
I avail, etc.,
[Inclosure 6.]
Ambassador Thompson to the Minister for
Foreign Affairs.
American Embassy,
Mexico, January 11,
1907.
Mr. Minister: I have the honor to
acknowledge the receipt of your excellency’s courteous note of the
9th instant with which you have been pleased to transmit the
interrogatories prepared by the district court of Yucatan to be
answered by the masters of the American fishing vessels Silas Steams, Lizzie B. Adams, and D. L. Trafton. So soon as the same are
translated into the English language I will take pleasure in
transmitting them to the Department of State at Washington, with the
request that they be placed in the hands of such judicial authority
for execution as the department may consider proper.
I avail, etc.,
[Inclosure
7.—Translation.]
The Minister for Foreign
Affairs to Ambassador Thompson.
Department of Foreign Affairs,
Mexico, January 14, 1907.
Mr. Ambassador: I have the honor to
acknowledge the receipt of your excellency’s note, dated the 11th
instant, in which you have been pleased to advise me that so soon as
the interrogatories relating to the examination of the masters of
the fishing vessels Silas Steams, Lizzie B.
Adams, and D. L. Trafton are
translated the same shall be sent, through the proper channels, to
the respective judicial authorities of the United States.
I renew, etc.,
