File No. 412.11/8.
The American Chargé
d’Affaires to the Secretary of
State.
Serial 734.]
American Embassy,
Mexico,
July 20, 1911.
Sir: I have the honor to refer to the
Department’s instruction No. 376 of the 16th ultimo, relative to
American claims growing out of the recent revolution in this country,
and to transmit to the Department a copy in translation of a note just
received from the Mexican Foreign Office, requesting to know whether it
is desired that claims that have been presented by this Embassy be
submitted to the consultative claims commission, the organization of
which was reported to the Department in the Embassy’s despatch No. 657
of the 15th ultimo.
I beg to request, prior to replying to the Mexican Foreign Office, that
the Department will give me an expression of its views in this matter. I
take it that the Department cannot consider itself bound with regard to
claims by the actions or decisions of this committee, and do not wish,
in the absence of instructions, to take any step that would indicate an
intention to abide by or subscribe to the committee’s resolutions.
I have [etc.]
[Inclosure.—Translation.]
The Minister for Foreign
Affairs to the American
Ambassador.
No. 1830.]
Department of Foreign Affairs,
Mexico,
July 13, 1911.
Mr. Ambassador: The Consultative Claims
Commission has addressed this Department asking for such claims as
may have been filed with it on account of damages caused by the
recent revolution.
In order to reach the proper conclusion, I beg your excellency to
have the kindness to advise me whether it is your desire that such
claims be submitted to said commission.
I take the liberty to say to your excellency that the commission was
created for the sole purpose of affording private parties, whether
natives or foreigners, facilities of procedure, because of its
simplicity and brevity, and also with reference to the decision in
each case, as it will not be necessary that it be based on legal
provisions upon the matter, since all elements of a probatory
character, even those of a moral order, will be accepted as
decisive.
The decisions of the commission will not prevent the persons in
interest when they disagree from resorting to the courts in defense
of their rights.
I avail [etc.]
Bartolomé Carbajal y Rosas.
