File No. 412.11/136.

The Acting Secretary of War to the Secretary of State.

Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of a letter of the 18th instant from the Acting Secretary of State, replying to one from this Department of the 3d instant, in which is inclosed a list of the claims on file in the Department of State arising in the United States but growing out of the revolution in adjacent Mexican territory.

The commission of Army officers appointed under the joint resolution of Congress is ready to begin its investigation of the claims, but most of them are not yet filed. It will facilitate the beginning of work if your Department would transmit to the War Department the original petitions or memorials on file in your office, provided, of course, that such action is entirely consistent with the purposes of the Department of State in respect to the claims in question.

Very respectfully,

Robert Shaw Oliver.