File No. 812.00/885.
The Mexican Ambassador to the Secretary of State.
Washington, March 6, 1911.
Excellency: It behooves this embassy most respectfully to ask your excellency to consider, in the spirit of justice that always animates you and with the great benevolence which you have repeatedly deigned to evince in solving difficult questions connected with Mexican interests, the situation created for our country by certain corrupt elements of the people of California, who under cover of the temporary difficulties of the Mexican public administration propose to turn the territory of Lower California into a field of action for criminal undertakings.
The Government of the United States has employed the public force to prevent adventurers from crossing the dividing line of the two Californias; but, in spite of the vigilance exercised, new accessions are swelling the ranks of these men who, though they so style themselves, are not insurgents, for they can not even be recognized disturbers of the peace, since they assume the responsibilities of invaders without a cause or a flag.
As the numbers of the filibusters are daily increasing and as the press gives out undenied intimations that there are American citizens in sympathy with those men, or favorably impressed by their venture, this embassy is of opinion that the Government of the United States would greatly assist toward a prompt and satisfactory outcome of the present situation by issuing to the federal authorities some recommendation of a general public character to take vigorous measures against the movements I am speaking of.
A declaration of this nature would be all the more desirable since at present the filibusters, favored by difficulties which hamper Government vigilance, not only can organize expeditions and cross into Mexican territory, but also have the sympathy and encouragement of certain persons who, through ignorance perhaps, have not been restrained by holding public office; I have reference to subalterns of the public authority or force.
[Page 414]As an instance I take the liberty of pointing to the course pursued by Capt. C. S. Babcock, who, after holding conferences with Simon Berthold about the middle of February last at Calexico, Cal., and as the result of representations made by that individual, subjected to unfair treatment the Mexican authorities who had taken refuge in United States territory by censuring them unnecessarily, since the consul always took great care that they did not even inadvertently break the laws of the country that gave them hospitality, and by exposing them to the shame of being put in a position lower than adventurers who were practically given the consideration due to belligerents.
Facts like this, to which I shall again refer when it may be necessary, fill with encouragement those who are interested in stirring up attempts against Mexico and sow in the public mind seeds whose bitter fruits would soon come to light if the United States Government should not, as I believe it will, make a categorical declaration demonstrating the firmness of the friendly relations between the two countries and the perfect harmony of the interests that unite them.
Among other publications on the subject, I permit myself to select a correspondent’s letter to the New York Times, which you will please find herewith,1 and, without indorsing its statements, I draw your excellency’s attention to the reflex they contain of the sentiments herein above adverted to.
On this occasion, I renew [etc.].
- Not printed.↩