File No. 812.00/480.
The Secretary of State to
the Postmaster General.
Washington, December 6,
1910.
Sir: Referring to previous correspondence, and
especially to the Department’s letter of August 30 last in the case of
the newspaper known as the Monitor Democrático,1 I have the honor to inclose herewith for your
information and for such action, if any, as you may consider
appropriate, a copy of a letter from Mr. Charles Q. Davis, president of
the Bankers Mining & Development Co., Columbus, Ohio, in which he
calls attention to articles appearing in the American Magazine entitled
“Barbarous Mexico.”
Mr. Davis states, “We think that the owners and editors of the American
Magazine should be prosecuted for libel and the publication denied the
use of the mail.”
For your information I inclose a copy of this Department’s reply to Mr.
Davis.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure 1.]
Mr. Charles Q.
Davis to the Secretary of
State.
Columbus, Ohio, November 23, 1910.
Sir: Permit me to call your attention to a
matter of importance involving the relation of Mexico and the United
States, and the protection of American citizens in Mexico. I spend
many months of each year in Mexico and am in close touch with the
business interests of Mexico and particularly American interests
there.
A great deal of ill feeling has been created among the people of
Mexico, particularly the intelligent and business class, against the
United States through the publishing in the American Magazine of a
series of articles called “Barbarous Mexico.” An investigation
disclosed to me proof that back of these publications was a Spaniard
who was financing the publications, and the object was to create
sympathy in this country favorable to a revolution in Mexico and
create ill feeling there against the United States.
To understand the latter it is necessary to know that President
Díaz’s policy of extreme friendship for the United States, and his
desire to be succeeded by a man who will continue his policy, finds
much opposition among certain elements in Mexico. This opposition
materialized in the candidacy of Mr. Reyes for Vice President, the
object being not so much oppositon to President Díaz as opposition
to his successor being a man who would continue the President’s
policy toward the United States. This movement failed, and then it
was decided to move direct against President Díaz, in an effort to
compel him to change his policy and support a man for his successor
who would change the attitude of the administration to one of less
friendship toward this country.
[Page 373]
In carrying out this campaign the American Magazine was used and the
United States Government permitted its use. Newspapers in this
country, assuming that a magazine would not print false and
malicious statements, commented on these articles and usually
unfavorably to Mexico. These comments, together with the articles in
question, being quoted in Mexican newspapers, resulted in the
widespread feeling that a campaign of vilification and abuse was
being waged against Mexico by the press of the United States.
To a certain extent this places in jeopardy the lives and property of
Americans throughout Mexico. It created an enormous amount of ill
feeling which found an outlet in the Rodríguez case, which was
merely a spark that set the feeling long ago engendered afire and
was not the cause of the outbreak.
I call your attention to these facts because many Americans agree
with me that the United States Government should do something to
protect the lives and interests of Americans in Mexico by taking
such steps as are necessary to prevent the vicious and uncalled for
libeling of the Government and people of Mexico. * * * We think the
owners and editors of the American Magazine should be prosecuted for
libel and the publication denied the use of the mail. * * * At the
request of a number of Americans residing in Mexico I am laying this
matter before you, and if there is any further information on the
subject that you require, I will be pleased to furnish it.
Yours, truly,
[Inclosure 2.]
The Secretary of
State to Mr. Davis.
Department of State,
Washington, December 6,
1910.
The Department acknowledges the receipt of your letter of November
23, calling attention [etc.].
I share your regret that the friendly and expanding social and
commercial relations and intercourse between the United States and
Mexico should in any way imperiled or retarded by propaganda carried
on from the American side of the boundary line.
I am obliged to say however that it is not clear to me in what way
the particular question you raise falls within the jurisdiction of
the Federal Government, or how the difficulty may be reached by the
Federal officials. The Department has, however, copied your letter
to the Postmaster General with a view to investigation as to
possible violations of the postal laws by the persons responsible
for the publications to which you refer.
It would seem, however, that the matter is entirely within the
control of the State authorities, and that if any effective action
is to be taken in connection therewith it must be initiated and
carried out by them.
I am [etc.],
