File No. 412.11/14.
[Untitled]
Washington, August 31, 1911.
Sir: The Department has received your No. 762 of the 2d instant, in regard to American claims [etc.].
In view of the fact that, as reported in the Embassy’s No. 712 of July 6, 1911, a commission apparently has now been organized by the Mexican Government to consider claims, it would be desirable that in communicating with persons who may address the Embassy in the future in regard to claims a slight alteration in the statement respecting the claims commission should be made in the last paragraph of the letter which the Embassy is sending to claimants.
As claims filed in the Embassy are brought to the attention of the Mexican Government, although not formally presented to it, it seems appropriate that claimants should be advised of this fact. It is accordingly suggested that you alter the last paragraph of the letter addressed by you to claimants so that it may read as follows:
The Department of State has been informed that the Government of Mexico has taken steps to create a commission to consider revolutionary claims, and directs the Embassy to notify all American claimants that, from the information in the possession of the Department in regard to the proposed organization and procedure of this commission, it will be necesary for claimants to present their claims personally before the commission. However, in order in the first instance to safeguard and conserve the interests of claimants, in accordance with the Department’s instructions, claims filed in the Embassy will be promptly called to the attention of the Mexican Government.
In acknowledging receipt of claims transmitted to the Embassy, which have been properly prepared in triplicate, you will advise the claimants in regard to the disposition of their claims in the sense of the identic letter above referred to, whenever this has not already been done. Pending further developments in the matter of the settlement of claims care should be taken that claimants are fully advised regarding the status of their claims.
With reference to the note addressed by you to the Foreign Office, submitting a brief statement of each claim filed in the Embassy, you are instructed to eliminate from this statement any reference to the evidence relied on by the claimants to support their claims. It seems preferable that you should state in this note to the Foreign Office that final presentation of claims will be deferred pending the receipt by the Embassy of proper instructions from the Department, rather [Page 941] than that formal presentation of claims will be made later on receipt of instructions from the Department.
I am [etc.]