File No. 412.11/51.
The American Ambassador to the Secretary of State.
Mexico, January 22, 1912.
With reference to the Alamo cases, Calero stated to me to-day that the killing of the three American citizens would be judicially [Page 955] investigated at once under the supervision of the Governor General, Lower California; that, following the report, the cases would be taken up directly with the Embassy, since the Consultative Claims Commission has no jurisdiction over cases of personal injury or loss of life occurring within Mexican territory.
With reference to the Douglas and El Paso cases, he said that the Mexican consuls there would be at once instructed to investigate them all, and would endeavor to settle directly with the claimants; in case of failure so to settle, the claims will be taken up here and, being considered of an international character since the injuries occurred on foreign soil, they would have immediate and preferential consideration after sending to Consultative Claims Commission. Calero thought this method would secure an early adjudication of both the Alamo and frontier cases. If the Department approves it, I should be instructed accordingly and the Department should take the appropriate action relating to the judicial investigation in the Alamo cases, and inform and instruct in the Douglas and El Paso cases.