Ambassador Thompson to the Acting Secretary of State .
Mexico , July 24, 1906.
Sir: By the overleaves accompanying this dispatch I confirm the telegrams exchanged between this embassy and the department on the 18th, 21st, 22d, and 23d instant, concerning the sale of arms and ammunition in the United States to be smuggled into Mexico along the Sonora boundary line for sale to the Yaqui Indians in that State.
At the termination of an interview with President Diaz on the 18th instant, when I called upon him in relation to Guatemala-Salvador matters, he asked me if my Government could not do something to stop the clandestine exportation from the United States into Mexico, along the Arizona line bordering the State of Sonora, of arms and ammunition intended for ultimate sale to Yaqui Indians, which had contributed so much—in fact, more than any other cause—to the prolongation of the hostile Yaqui Indian campaign in the State of Sonora, Mexico, and which had resulted in so many murders, not only of venturesome Americans entering that country for divers purposes, but also of Mexicans. I responded that I feared my Government was in complete ignorance of the existence of such a state of affairs along the Arizona-Sonora border, but gave him the assurance that upon being apprised thereof, as well as of his anxiety and wishes in the matter, I felt that my Government would be glad to do everything within its power to stop the traffic before mentioned; hence my telegram of the 18th instant.
In an interview with President Diaz yesterday, when I conveyed to him the substance of the department’s telegram of the 21st instant, to the effect that our President seemed to be deeply concerned that such an infamous practice as the sale and smuggling of arms and ammunition to the hostile Yaqui Indians should exist, and that measures would be taken by my Government to prevent this traffic, the President expressed his keen appreciation of the action of President Roosevelt in the matter, adding that he hoped, with the cooperation of the detectives of the Mexican Government stationed along the line dividing Arizona from Sonora with the American officials in the neighborhood, the desired object would be attained; if not wholly, at least in part, so that the infamous practice before mentioned would be reduced to a minimum and within a short time perhaps entirely stopped.
I have, etc.,