File No. 812.77/112a.
The Acting Secretary of State to the American Ambassador.
Washington, March 30, 1912—11 a.m.
The American Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and the American Order of Railway Conductors are about to take up the grievances of American employees of the Mexican National Railways and will make the dangerous character of their employment under present conditions the basis for a request of the Department for special representations to the Mexican Government and for extraordinary measures by this Government. It is possible that if the Department’s reply or the Mexican Government’s attitude do not satisfy the men a strike of all American employees on the National lines will be ordered. The Department views this possibility with grave concern, for various reasons, such as the serious handicap that would be placed upon Americans in Mexico, whose need to leave the country may become imperative; the rights of the employees as American citizens; the usual inconvenience resulting from the stoppage of communication; the isolation of the Embassy and the various consular officers; in general, the serious situation with which this Government, as well as the Mexican Government, would be confronted if the strike becomes a reality.
You are therefore instructed to seek an early interview with President Madero and to impress upon him the gravity of the threatened situation and to suggest to him the great desirability of removing the cause of complaint by stopping, as far as possible, the discrimination alleged by the American employees, and urgently to request that every possible measure of protection be afforded them during the performance, often perilous, of their daily duties.
[Page 918]You may also say to the President that the matter would seem, in view of the present political situation in the country, to call not only for bare fairness in meeting the demands of the Americans (due regard being had for the Mexican employees), but for a more than usual measure of consideration.