File No. 812.00/5347a.
The Acting Secretary of State to the Secretary of the Navy.
Washington, October 17, 1912.
Sir: The Department is in receipt of information from private sources, from the American Consul at Vera Cruz, from the American Embassy at Mexico City, and from the Mexican Embassy in this city to the effect that the city of Vera Cruz has been taken by Mexican insurrectionists, acting under the orders of Felix Diaz, a prominent Mexican and a nephew of former President Diaz. While the Embassy [Page 854] at Mexico City and the consul report the situation as quiet, the Department learns from the Mexican Embassy that a strong effort will be made at once by Government forces to recapture the city, and it seems likely that if fighting takes place in Vera Cruz the many Americans and American interests there will be placed in a position of serious danger.
The Department of State accordingly requests that the U. S. S. Des Moines, which recently visited Vera Cruz and is believed to be now at Progreso, be ordered to return to Vera Cruz immediately to observe and report upon the situation and, in such ways as commend themselves to the discretion of the commanding officer, to afford protection to the Americans and American interests that may be in need thereof.
Since the policy of this Government with regard to Mexico and the revolution at present in progress in that country is one of nonintervention, the Department desires that the commander of the Des Moines be instructed to observe a strictly neutral attitude in his dealing with the Federal or rebel de facto officials, and that he take no action which could be construed as favoring either one side or the other in the present controversy. It would be glad to have him report frequently upon the developments in the political situation and begs to say that it would also be glad to have him, after Americans and American interests have been adequately provided for, to afford such assistance and protection to foreigners and foreign interests as may be possible under the circumstances.
The Department regrets that it is not possible to give anything more than the above general indications as to the instructions which should be sent to the commanding officer of the Des Moines. The information it has so far received is meager and it is practically impossible to foresee what will occur in the immediate future. It desires accordingly that the commander shall, with the general position of the Department in mind, act in all instances and at all times in accordance with his own discretion. He will doubtless find it advantageous to consult with the consul from time to time.
The Department understands that the U. S. S. Tacoma may soon be released from its duty at Bluefields on the Nicaraguan coast, and begs to suggest that in this event she also be ordered to the port of Vera Cruz to cooperate with the Des Moines. The instructions given her commanding officer should be the same as those given the commanding officer of the Des Moines. The principal reason for asking for her detail is the likelihood that communication between Vera Cruz and the outside world may be cut (the Department is informed by the consul at Vera Cruz that insurrectionists refused to permit the use of the cable from 11 o’clock on the night of October 16 until 10 o’clock the following morning) and the desire to have some channel of communication if this occurs. The Tacoma’s wireless plant, in conjunction with that of the Des Moines, could probably relay messages either to Texas or to Cuba with sufficient accuracy to make this a trustworthy means of communication.
I have [etc.]