File No. 812.00/1057.
The Secretary of State to the Mexican Chargé d’Affaires.
Washington, April 10, 1911.
Sirs: Referring to the Department’s note of March 9, relative to the report that, on February 7 and 8 last, Mexican troops deliberately fired on American troops who were patrolling the American side of the Rio Grande in order to prevent any violation of the neutrality laws, wounding a boy and a pack horse, I have the honor to inclose herewith a copy of a letter, dated the 23d ultimo,1 from the Attorney General, transmitting a telegram received by him from the United States marshal for the western district of Texas, stating that the latter’s deputy at Presidio, Tex., had telegraphed him that on the 22d ultimo American soldiers patrolling the river above Presidio were fired upon by Mexican soldiers and compelled to seek shelter for safety.
The Department finds itself under the necessity of again asserting that, the facts in this case being as stated, the firing upon American troops on the American side of the border by the Mexican troops on the Mexican side constitutes a most grave violation not only of the principles of international law and of the sovereignty of the United States, but also of that traditional friendliness which exists between the Governments of the United States and Mexico. Moreover, as this Government has been compelled heretofore to remark, it feels that while it must assume that the soldiers in question acted in this case not only without authority but in disobedience and defiance of what must have been their positive orders, yet it also feels that it can not overlook the incident and that it must expect that the Government of Mexico will at once disavow the action and take all steps necessary to make certain that no further acts of this sort shall occur, since, if repeated, they would inevitably lead to collisions between the troops of the two countries which there would be the strongest reasons to deplore.
I must emphasize the great potentiality of danger which lies in these seeming repetitions of this offense, and urge upon you the imperative necessity that the Mexican Government immediately take all requisite steps to prevent acts so inconsistent with good will and friendliness.
Accept [etc.],
- Not printed.↩