Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, With the Annual Message of the President Transmitted to Congress December 3, 1907, (In two parts), Part II
File No. 283/79–86.
The Secretary of State to the Mexican Ambassador.
Washington , May 7, 1907 .
Excellency: Referring to the department’s note, No. 26, of the 6th ultimo, I have the honor to inclose herewith, for your information, a copy of a report dated the 23d ultimo, made by the governor of Arizona to the Secretary of the Interior, showing the measures taken by the former to prevent the smuggling of firearms and ammunition from that Territory into Mexico for the use of the Yaqui Indians.
Accept, etc.,
The Governor of Arizona to the Secretary of the Interior.
Phoenix Ariz., , April 23, 1907 .
Sir: I duly received your favor of the 4th instant advising me of the receipt of my letter of the 30th ultimo relative to the smuggling of firearms across the Mexican border for the use of the Yaqui Indians, and requesting me to advise you of the reports received from the rangers and sheriffs.
I have the honor to inclose herewith copies of letters received by me from the sheriffs of the southern counties of the Territory and from the captain of the rangers.
In addition to these reports I have further information gathered by my secretary during a recent trip through the border counties, and I am satisfied that the Yaquis are now obtaining few, if any, arms from this Territory. Early last summer, as you are aware, I had occasion to give full instructions to the sheriffs and rangers, and the diligence of these officers led to a practical suppression of the traffic, according to the advices given me some months ago by Gen. Luis Terres, commander of the military zone of Sonora and Sinaloa. And it appears that there has been no resumption of the traffic of consequence. It is difficult, of course, to prevent altogether the sales of arms for the benefit of the Yaquis, as pointed out in my annual report for last year (pp. 21–22).
I shall continue to give this matter my careful attention, and am confident that our friends, the Mexican authorities, will have no ground for complaint against this Territory.
Very respectfully,
[Subinclosure.]
[From Captain Wheeler’s reports of movements of the Rangers.]
Hon. Joseph H.
Kibbey,
Governor of Arizona,
Phoenix, Ariz.
Sir: I respectfully acknowledge receipt to-day of your letter containing directions for suppressing the smuggling of arms to Yaqui Indians. We will do all in our power to stop the practice.
[Untitled]
Naco, Ariz ., April 5, 1907.
Hon. Joseph H.
Kibbey,
Governor of Arizona,
Phoenix, Ariz.
Sir: We have been investigating the sale of arms at the stores of the different towns. All stores report very low sales since the trouble of last June. I am convinced, and my men concur, that if any arms are being smuggled to Yaqui Indians, it is being done by the Papagoes (Indians). They are great friends; the Papagoes can easily secure arms from Tucson parties and in turn deliver them to the Yaquis. We know that Yaquis have made visits to Papago country. I will send a squad to watch that section, and will also keep close guard along the border between Douglas and Nogales.
[Untitled]
Hon. Joseph H.
Kibbey,
Governor, Phoenix,
Ariz.
Dear Sir: I am in receipt of your letter of March 30, and will say in reply that I will do all in my power to detect and prevent the sale of firearms to the Indians in this county, and further that I will assist in any way possible in preventing arms from being sent from this county to the Yaquis.
Very truly, yours,
By
[Untitled]
Tombstone, Ariz ., April 3, 1907 .
Hon. Joseph H.
Kibbey,
Governor of Arizona,
Phoenix, Ariz.
Dear Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your letter of March 30, relative to the alleged smuggling of firearms and ammunition to the Yaqui Indians of Mexico. I will notify all dealers of the law, and will also direct my deputies to cooperate with the Arizona Rangers to detect and prevent this business.
Yours, very respectfully,
By
[Untitled]
Tucson, Ariz ., April 2, 1907 .
Hon. Joseph H.
Kibbey,
Governor of Arizona,
Phoenix, Ariz.
Dear Sir: I beg to acknowledge receipt of yours of the 30th of March. Replying to same will say that I will notify all dealers in this county, as per your instructions, and my deputies and self will do all in our power to detect and prevent the sale and passage of firearms into Mexico.
Respectfully,
Sheriff of Pima County.
[Untitled]
Nogales, Ariz ., April 1, 1907 .
To the Governor, Phoenix, Ariz.
Sir: I am in receipt of your letter of the 30th ultimo, regarding the sale of firearms in this Territory to Yaqui Indians, and in reply to same I assure you that every precaution will be taken to prevent the above practice in the future.
Yours, very truly,
[Untitled]
Yuma, Ariz ., April 9, 1907 .
Hon. Jos. H. Kibby,
Governor,
Phoenix, Ariz.
Dear Sir: I am in receipt of your favor of March 30 in regard to Indians buying firearms. Myself and deputies have and do all the time keep a close watch on all Indians trying to buy firearms and ammunition, and we have had only one case of Indians buying firearms since our first notification from your office (June, 1906), and these were Indians that live on this side of the line and have no relations with the Yaqui Indians whatever. Nevertheless, we will keep a close watch and see that no arms are bought here for the purpose of smuggling them across the line to the Yaqui Indians.
Yours, very truly,
Sheriff of Yuma County, Ariz