File No. 812.00/5276.
[Untitled]
Washington, October 19, 1912—5 p.m.
Your October 18, 7 p.m. You will say to the Minister for Foreign Affairs that while the Department is glad to accede to his wishes whenever possible, it can scarcely justify itself in doing so in the present instance, since, in ordering a gunboat to Vera Cruz, which is admitted by the Mexican Federal Government to be under rebel control, it is fulfilling a perfectly obvious and imperative duty on its part toward Americans and American interests in that port. Hence, this Department not only deprecates but much regrets that any other purpose should be perceived in its presence there than the one which you have communicated to the Mexican Government and which the Mexican Government may, if it deems it necessary, make public in order to calm whatever excitement may exist. It would seem quite superfluous to add that this Government, of course, has no other purpose whatsoever in dispatching the Des Moines to Vera Cruz.