File No. 312.11/94a.
The Secretary of State to the American Ambassador.
Washington, February 12, 1912—5 p.m.
The Department receives occasional inquiries whether it is safe for Americans to remain in particular parts of Mexico. The policy of the Department now is to leave all Americans to follow their own judgment on this question, unless at any time a well-defined part of Mexico should become sharply differentiated from the rest of the country as peculiarly perilous. In that case Americans might be advised to leave that locality.
If later on, contrary to the hopes of this Government, the situation grows steadily worse, the Department will consider the question of instructing all consular officers in Mexico to give public notice, through the press and otherwise, to all Americans in their district that, because of the prevailing lawlessness and the failure of the Government to preserve order and tranquility, all American citizens are advised to return for the present to their own country and that claims for all losses sustained by this action, or through injury to American citizens or their property, will at the proper time be presented to the Mexican Government.