File No. 812.00/385.
The American Ambassador
to the Secretary of State.
[Extract.]
American Embassy,
Mexico, November 10,
1910.
No. 241.]
Sir: On November 5, El Debate, a weekly
newspaper controlled by persons closely associated with the Government,
published an editorial of a most violent and inflammatory character in
connection with the burning of a Mexican citizen, Antonio Rodríguez, for
the murder of an American woman at Rock Springs, Tex. The evident
purpose of this editorial was to excite public opinion and to incite the
populace to acts of violence; and it had that result, as agitation and
unrest were immediately evident in the cafes and public places. This
agitation found its first expression in the assembling of a mob composed
largely of university students, small shopmen and the better class of
artisans on the night of Tuesday, the 8th.
After a number of inflammatory speeches and the passage of some
resolutions, which have not found their way into print, the mob,
amounting to more than 1,000 persons, marched to the oifice of the
Mexican Herald (an American-owned daily) and amid cries of “Down with
the Gringos “and “Death to the Yankees,” attacked the Herald building
with stones, breaking a number of windows and threatening the safety of
the Herald employees. [Other similar attacks.]
During all this time the police remained absolutely inactive; at the
conclusion of the demonstrations some arrests were made, but those
arrested were liberated without exception a few hours afterward.
On the morning following * * * a mob of 5,000, further inflamed by an
article in El Diario del Hogar (anti-Government), assembled in front of
the municipal palace and after a number of inflammatory speeches marched
in tumultuous order up San Francisco Street. * * * No less than a dozen
American citizens were insulted and maltreated, some slightly, some
severely * * *.
In the afternoon of the same day I addressed a note1 to the foreign office, and have
to to-day received a reply2 which seems to indicate the present disposition of that
department.
[Page 355]
Not fully content with this action, and anticipating that further
outrages might occur in the evening, I endeavored to communicate with
Mr. Creel for the purpose of impressing him with the seriousness of the
situation. I was not able to find Mr. Creel, but Mr. Gamboa the
subsecretary came to the embassy at my request and I talked very clearly
and emphatically to him about the inertness of the authorities, the
strong feeling of resentment in the American colony, and the danger of
allowing matters to take their course, apparently with the acquiescence,
if not with the sympathy, of the guardians of law and order * * *.
Later in the night the mob assumed dangerous proportions and malignant
character, resisting the police and committing further acts of
vandalism. To-day I visited Mr. Creel and he informed me that the
Government proposed, from now on, to take the most vigorous measures not
only in the repression of disorders but in seeking out and punishing the
authors and instigators of the riots, including the publishers who by
their violent and incendiary articles are in a large measure responsible
for the events which have occurred.
Last night I discovered that many members of the American colony,
resenting the outrages to which they and their families had been
subjected, were in an ugly mood, and in the absence of police protection
were preparing to protect themselves. Anticipating that unfortunate
incidents might result from this feeling of resentment, I sent for a
reporter of the Mexican Herald and gave an interview1 which was intended to allay the
feeling of hostility which was rapidly fomenting in the minds of the
unprotected and abused American citizens, and at the same time to serve
as a note of warning to the Mexican public. I am pleased to say that the
interview had the desired effect as it not only caused the abandonment
of a public meeting of protest of the American colony but also caused
the formation of an active Mexican public opinion in condemnation of the
demonstrations.
I have [etc.],
[Inclosure 1.]
The American
Ambassador to the Minister for
Foreign Affairs.
American Embassy,
Mexico, November 9,
1910.
No. 519.]
Mr. Minister: It is my painful duty to call
your attention to the circumstances attending the disgraceful
rioting which has occurred in the City of Mexico, beginning last
evening with the stoning of the office of the Mexican Herald and
culminating this morning about noon with an outrage to an American
flag which was displayed from the front of the Imperial Restaurant
in the Calle San Francisco.
The cause of these riots is said to be the burning of a Mexican,
Antonio Rodríguez, for the crime of rape followed by murder of an
American woman at Rock Springs, Tex. The perpetrators were outside
the law and criminals in the eyes of the law, and their acts are in
no way representative of the Government of the United States or of
the people thereof.
The assembling of the mob in the streets near the municipal palace
was known to this embassy before the insults mentioned occurred, and
it seems singular that the municipal authorities should not have
been similarly well informed and thus have prevented the unseemly
outrage to the flag of a friendly nation. From trustworthy sources I
learn that no arrests were made even when the
[Page 356]
disorder was at its height and that
bystanders rather abetted than discouraged the mob.
I deem it my duty to advise your excellency that a continuance of
this rioting is anticipated this evening.
I anticipate that your excellency’s Government will immediately take
the precaution to prevent a recurrence of insults to the American
flag, and that those guilty of the vandalism of this morning may be
sought out and punished. In the meantime I am with the greatest
regret communicating the events which are occurring to the
Government at Washington.
I avail [etc.],
[Inclosure 2.]
The Minister for Foreign
Affairs to the American
Ambassador.
[Translation.]
Department of Foreign Affairs,
Mexico, November 9, 1910.
Mr. Ambassador: I have the honor to
acknowledge the receipt of your excellency’s note of this date,
bringing to my attention that a mob, after having last night stoned
the offices of the Mexican Herald, to-day at noon insulted an
American flag which was hanging over the door of La Imperial
Restaurant on San Francisco Street of this city.
As very properly stated by your excellency, the disturbance by such
mob was due to the indignation caused among the people by the report
that a Mexican citizen, presumably guilty of a crime, was burnt
alive by a mob in the adjoining State of Texas before he had first
been brought to any sort of trial.
The Government of Mexico deplores and condemns the acts of violence
committed in this city, and I can assure your excellency that the
authorities will proceed without delay to ascertain who are the
persons guilty of the criminal acts of to-day, so that they may be
duly punished. I trust that similar action will be taken by the
authorities of the Government which you so worthily represent
against those who are guilty of burning alive in Texas the Mexican
Antonio García.
The governor of the Federal district has just informed me that 12 of
those who appear to be guilty were arrested and other arrests were
made this afternoon.
I avail [etc.]
[Inclosure 3.]
Statement of the American ambassador published
in the Mexican Herald of November 10, 1910.
[Translation.]
When interviewed last night the American ambassador, Henry Lane
Wilson made the following statement:
I am deeply shocked at the outrages committed against
Americans in Mexico City in an anti-American spirit. Hotels
and business houses have been attacked and damage done;
American men, women, and children insulted on the streets
for no other reason except blind and savage resentment
against the acts of a mob in the State of Texas. The spirit
that animates the mob in the City of Mexico seems to be
similar to that of the miscreants who, outside of law, burnt
a Mexican citizen for murdering an American woman.
For an outrage against a Mexican citizen neither the American
Government nor the American people are responsible, nor do
they sympathize in the least degree with that spirit of
barbarism. Proper redress for outrages committed against
citizens of any country residing in another country is
obtained through diplomatic channels, and not by acts of
vandalism and outrages to persons and property, which place
the perpetrators on a level with those against whose crimes
they are protesting. The mob which has infested the streets
of Mexico for the last day and a half has perhaps inflicted
some injury on American citizens in Mexico, but it has
inflicted far greater damage on the reputation of Mexico
throughout the world as a civilized, peace-loving, and
progressive power. It is to be regretted that the police
authorities have, during the occurrence of these events,
shown themselves wantonly neglectful of their duties, and
have stood idly by while the American flag was outraged and
American persons and property were attacked.
Neither the Mexican Government, which is always dignified,
patriotic, and quick to respond to just complaints, nor the
better class of Mexican people can be held responsible
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for the outrages
which have been committed, and it can not be doubted for a
moment that the representations which have been made by this
embassy will receive sympathetic consideration and procure
prompt action. The unfortunate, affairs which have occurred
have been duly reported to Washington, and it may be relied
upon that the action taken there, while just and conceived
in the spirit that should animate a friendly nation, will
leave nothing undone which should be done. In the meantime I
beg to advise all American citizens to go quietly about
their business and refrain as far as self-respect will
permit them from such words or deeds of resentment as would
place them on the same plane with the violators of the
law.
The purpose of this interview is to allay agitation and to
advise the American colony, of whom there are 10,000 in the
City of Mexico, that they should refrain from acts which
might further embarrass a situation already difficult.
