Ambassador Thompson to the Secretary of State .
Mexico , June 6, 1906 .
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of the department’s instruction No. 36, dated May 23 last, relative to the depredations of the Yaqui Indians in the State of Sonora, accompanied by a copy of a letter from Mr. C. W. Burket, general manager of the Ures Consolidated Mining Company. Although it may be true that the brigandage of the Yaqui Indian tribes has been for a long period of years a constant menace to mining, as well as such other interests as may have been within the province of action of the marauding Indians, it is also true that ever since the first uprising of the latter the State and Federal Governments assumed an energetic attitude, sparing no efforts to suppress the Indian depredations, and imparted to all classes of citizens living in Sonora all possible protection. In order to put an end to the Yaqui question the Government has for the last three or four years been deporting the rebels to Yucatan and Quintana Roo, and with a view to prevent any further massacres of travelers the latter, upon their request, have been given escorts to protect them.
The government of Sonora, with a view to disprove the charges made by foreigners against the civil and military authorities of the State, addressed a circular letter to the leading mining and industrial concerns and other residents of the Yaqui district. Among the replies to said circular, of all of which I have inclosed copy and translation, I respectfully invite the attention of the department to the letter of the American consul at Hermosillo. (page 13 of inclosure 2), in which he gives a truthful idea of the situation.
I have, etc.,