File No. 812.00/5063.
The Acting Secretary of State to the American Ambassador.
Washington, October 3, 1912—2 p.m.
Your September 20 and September 25. The Department is of the opinion that insurrectionary leaders captured in this country can not be surrendered to the Mexican Government on charges arising in connection with or growing out of the present revolutionary disturbances in Mexico, since the extradition treaty between Mexico and the United States provides that individuals shall not be surrendered for political offenses. You may informally bring this to the attention of the Minister for Foreign Affairs and add that this Government expects to have such leaders taken into military custody under the provisions of our so-called neutrality statutes, and that naturally the requirements of the laws of this country, under whose operation they fall, will have to be completely satisfied before a request for extradition could be acceded to.