File No. 812.00/625.
The Secretary of State to
the Mexican Ambassador.
Department of State,
Washington, January 19,
1911.
No. 390.]
Excellency: I have the honor to transmit
herewith for your information a copy of a letter from the Department of
Justice,1 inclosing a
copy of a letter from the United States marshal for the western district
of Texas, relative to the result of certain investigations made in his
district of complaints of violations of the neutrality laws by persons
interested in the revolt in Mexico, together with copies of the
inclosures referred to in the letter from the marshal.
Accept [etc.],
[Inclosure.]
The United States
Marshal to the Attorney
General.
Western District of Texas,
San Antonio, December 31, 1910.
Sir: I inclose herewith copy of letter from
Hillebrand, deputy marshal, stationed at El Paso, together with a
copy of a letter, dated the 24th instant, addressed to Mr.
Hillebrand by the Mexican consul at that point.
[Page 389]
The allegations contained in the letter of the Mexican consul, if
true, would constitute a very serious charge against the management
of this office and the Bureau of Investigation, with whom we are
cooperating in relation to neutrality; but, as indicated by the
almost daily reports which are being forwarded to you, there is
absolutely no foundation on which said allegations can rest. The
statement that there was a body of armed men at Flores ranch, in the
State of Chihuahua, is an illustration of the extreme statements
made repeatedly by representatives of the Mexican Government. From
statements published in the El Paso papers it appears that this body
of men was unquestionably the party which alarmed the city of Juarez
to such an extent that they ordered out the troops, and which upon
investigation proved to be a body of woodchoppers pursuing a
peaceful pursuit.
Regarding the statement that bodies of armed men are crossing at
Presidio, Candelaria, etc., my investigation shows no such state of
affairs. Presidio is in the “Big Bend” country, 70 miles from a
railroad and in practically an uninhabited region. There are no
large towns, only small settlements. The means of egress either to
or from Mexico are extremely limited. The country is very rough,
mountainous, and full of deep canyons, and practically inaccessible
except along the well-beaten tracks of travel. Large bodies of men
can not move through this country except along such beaten tracks.
The statement contained in this report, and others which we hear,
are absolutely without foundation. They are simply rumors, given by
irresponsible parties, which seem to be absolutely believed in every
instance by the representatives of the Mexican Government.
My representatives along the border are alert, closely in touch with
the situation, investigate all rumors of gatherings of supposed
revolutions, and such an uncalled-for statement as made by Mr.
Lomelí is preposterous. I am cooperating with Gen. Hoyt, commander
of the Department of Texas; the representatives of the Bureau of
Investigation, the customs officials, and the district attorney and
his assistants, and, in fact, am ready to exercise my full authority
in the premises.
As indicated in the reports which have been forwarded to the
department, we have found no evidence of any violation of
neutrality. There is good reason to believe that many Mexicans have
crossed the border from this side, but not in large bands. This has
been done openly in the great majority of cases, and as there has
been no semblance of organization in such parties, there has been no
way in which my representatives could act.
Referring to the statement as to the, presence of Antonio I.
Villareal and Praxedes G. Guerrero, I desire to say that such rumors
have been investigated very carefully and they have not been found
in this district.
Respectfully,
[Subinclosure 1.]
The United States Deputy
Marshal to the United States
Marshal.
El
Paso, Tex., December 26,
1910.
Dear Sir: Inclosed please find copy of a
communication I received today. * * *
Yours, very truly,
[Subinclosure 2.]
The Mexican Consul at El
Paso to the United States Deputy
Marshal.
El
Paso, Tex., December 24,
1910.
Dear Sir: As I had the honor to tell you
during our conference yesterday, I wish to embody in writing the
different points and views I have repeatedly expressed to you in
regard, to the enforcement of the neutrality laws on this border,
with especial application to the actual troubles in the northern
part of the State of Chihuahua, Mexico.
As you are well aware, a revolutionary agitation and propaganda
against the Mexican Government has been going on for long time in
this town, accompanied by public and private meetings promoted by
well-known agitators; by
[Page 390]
the publication of small Spanish papers edited by one Lauro Aguirre
F. Gamiochipi, where all kinds of slurs against the Mexican
authorities are printed, along with false news of rebel successes
and transparent invitations to the Mexican population to go and join
the rebels operating in Chihuahua against the Government, and by the
open sale in the streets of said papers and others of the same
character published in other towns in this country by well-known
agitators, enemies of the Mexican Government.
I have given you notice at the proper time of the presence in this
city of some of the leaders of the movement, such as one Antonio I.
Villareal and one Praxedes Guerrero, who were indicted by the
Federal grand jury and whose orders of arrest have since been in
your possession.
I have informed you that at Toyah, Big Plains, and other places in
Texas the same propaganda was going on, and that lately, according
to letters I have received, a number of Mexicans have gone from this
part of Texas by way of Presidio, Candelario, Chisos, Terlingua, and
Boquillas, to join the Mexican rebels that are at present on the
northern border of the State of Chihuahua near its boundary with the
State of Coahuila; and in one instance I pointed out to you the
presence at Presidio, Tex., of Antonio I. Villareal and one Guerra,
who went there with the bound purpose to invade Mexico from that
point.
You are well aware that a large amount of arms and ammunition has
been smuggled from this country into Mexico for the purpose of
fostering a revolt against her Government, and that such operations
have been carried out without interference from the American
officers; and that no restrictions have been placed either in this
town or in others on the American border on the sale of guns,
ammunition, or explosives, even after the breaking out of the
rebellion on the Mexican border.
On the 21st instant I informed you that a party of armed men had made
their appearance at Flores ranch near the city of Juarez and close
to the American border, and that said parties had left a trail
leading from the American border to the said ranch, indicating that
said parties had started from a place near the smelter, crossed the
river, and gone into Mexico; I informed you also that a part of the
Mexican garrison in Juarez would go early on the following morning
to attack said band, and requested you to place some soldiers or
officers of the law on the American border near the place of the
intended attack, in order to enlist and disarm whatever rebels may
cross back the line into the United States, which request I notice
you received, stating that you were unable to act.
In view of all these facts, and of the great damage that my country
is suffering on their account, I respectfully request you to see
that the neutrality laws are properly enforced on this border, as
becomes the friendly relations existing between Mexico and the
United States and the neighborly duty of avoiding all causes of
friction between the two countries.
Yours, very truly,
