File No. 812.113/1479.
The American Chargé d’Affaires to the Secretary of State.
Mexico, December 15, 1912—10 a.m.
The Embassy has just received from the Foreign Office a note dated December 12 replying to my request for permission to import arms and ammunition, as follows:
This Government has followed the invariable rule of not allowing foreigners residing in Mexico to be armed by their Governments; therefore, I beg that when [Page 878] you think it proper to ask that any American citizen domiciled in this Republic should procure arms, you will make your request as if it concerned a transaction between private individuals, so that the Mexican Government may have the satisfaction of granting it in all cases where it is possible.
I do not see how the change desired by the Foreign Office can be made by the Embassy, which has already stated that the arms had been shipped consigned to the Consul at Hermosillo.