File No. 711.1216M/163A.

The Secretary of State to the American Ambassador.

[Telegram—Paraphrase.]

In its note to the Mexican Embassy the Department requested that should the necessary authority by the Mexican Congress for free entry of materials be delayed, the Mexican Government make an arrangement by which the payment of duties may be deferred, and if the suggested legislation is adopted they may be formally remitted. To avoid delay the Department of the Interior is now paying duties.

Engineer Ockerson states that he must have some formal document from the Mexican Government to show his authority to enter Mexico. It is also necessary that formal instructions be given to the Mexican customs officers to admit without bond locomotives, pile drivers, supply trains, animals, and general equipment and to permit the running of trains at night and on holidays. Endeavor to arrive at an arrangement with the foreign office about these matters at earliest possible moment.

Knox.