File No. 812.00/1257.
The Secretary of State to the Mexican Chargé d’Affaires.
In its memorandum of the 12th instant, the Department of State suggested to the Mexican Embassy that, should the courier employed by the Mexican Government to carry funds for the needs of Gen. Luque’s garrison, at Ojinaga, Chihuahua, along the road [Page 457] from Marfa to Presidio, Tex., be apprehensive regarding his personal safety, he should apply for protection to the local authorities of the State of Texas, who will doubtless render the necessary assistance.
The Department of State has to-day sent to the governor of Texas a translation of the Mexican Embassy’s memorandum of the 8th instant, calling attention to a report that the courier referred to was recently assaulted between Marfa and Presidio, Tex., and a copy of the Department’s memorandum of the 12th instant in reply thereto, with the statement that, should the Mexican Government, pursuant to the suggestion made by the Department of State, request the authorities of Texas to take measures to protect the safety of the courier above mentioned, the Department of State trusts that it will be possible for the State authorities to extend such protection to him as the necessities of the occasion appear to demand.
Washington, April 14, 1911.