File No. 812.00/1429.
[Telegram—Extract—Paraphrase.]
I saw Mr. de la Barra last night, and after commenting on his speech in Congress he spoke of his entire confidence in the friendship [Page 465] of the United States for Mexico and deprecated the possibility of serious complications from the present situation, especially in view of the absence of any intention whatsoever of Mexico to alter its feeling of sincere good will toward us. Both nations, however, had the right, he said, to offer their respective views as to questions in dispute and their reasons therefor. His note of the 17th in regard to Agua Prieta was not meant to do more than this. Mexico is anxious to do everything possible to avoid misunderstandings with the United States. The idea that President Díaz should wish to provoke our resentment in order to escape the consequences of the domestic situation, he said, was absurd. I am inclined to think that the form and tone of the minister’s note of the 17th is partly due to hurry and excitement rather than to a spirit of contentiousness.