File No. 812.00/1984.
The Mexican Ambassador to the Secretary of State.
Washington, May 27, 1911.
Excellency: This embassy hears that a company of Mexicans at San Diego, Cal., righteously indignant at the constant raids of filibusters in Lower California and taking into consideration the difficulties of the Mexican Government in checking the aggressions of those malefactors while the Federal forces are wholly engaged in protecting the Colorado River works, resolved to go to Ensenada, Lower California, and assist in the maintenance of order.
Among the Mexicans who displayed such praiseworthy zeal not only in defense of the national territory but also of order, which is of equal advantage to Mexicans and foreigners, are Messrs. Dr. Horacio López and son, Manuel González, Martín Solís, José Jurado, Carlos Mendoza, and Juan Nieto, who tried to put to sea on the Mexican steamer General Reyes at San Diego, Cal., on the 25th instant, and were arrested by the authorities of San Diego, Cal., under circumstances indicative of ill will, as Dr. Horacio López and his companions were subjected to maltreatment in spite of their being unarmed.
[Page 495]In bringing this to your excellency’s knowledge I need not call your attention to the gravity of the occurrence, for not only did those that effected the arrest board a boat flying the Mexican flag and arrest these gentlemen without just cause, but they detained them as if they belonged to an irregular band acting in contempt of the neutrality laws and not to a company of citizens lawfully engaged in defending their country against piratical attacks.
Besides the arrests made on board the General Reyes, Jesús Páez, Esq., and Manuel Labástida, a merchant, members of the junta mexicana, were arrested on the ground of having relations with the others.
These acts stand in contrast with the ease with which the filibusters can cross the boundary line there. Their boldness, as is known to your excellency, has reached the point of publicly bidding through the press of New York for the enlistment of men to invade Mexico; yet they are left free to carry out their criminal purposes while respected men, who are working for the common good, are deprived of their liberty. Wherefore Mexico could not hold itself responsible for the damage done by the said filibusters to the persons or property of the foreigners established in Lower California.
I am confident that your excellency, inspired with sentiments of justice, equity, and mutual considerateness existing between the two chancelleries, will be pleased to order that the facts herein related be thoroughly investigated, and that the persons arrested on board the steamer General Reyes and in the city of San Diego be immediately released.
I avail [etc.],