File No. 812.00/7443.
The Secretary of State to the Governor of Texas.
Washington, May 13, 1913.
Sir: In reply to your letter of the 7th of April, quoting a report from Sergeant M. W. Hines, of the Texas Rangers, in regard to violations of the neutrality statutes of the United States at Eagle Pass, I have the honor to inform you that the Department has received from the Honorable J. F. Curtis, Assistant Secretary of the Treasury, a letter dated the 8th of May, the substance of which is as follows:
The Collector of Customs at Eagle Pass reports that Captain Biegler, Mr. Chas. E. Breniman, Special Agent of the Department of Justice, the Immigration Service, and the collector’s office are in conference nearly every day in reference to the violation of the neutrality laws, and that neither of them believes there is any foundation in fact for the report that large quantities of arms and ammunition are being smuggled into Mexico, as alleged. The collector adds that while he does not deny that it is probable that there is some smuggling of arms and ammunition in a small way he believes it has not occurred to any great extent and that there is no reason for any alarm at this time.
The collector further reports that Captain Biegler has stationed some soldiers at the place about seventeen miles below Eagle Pass referred to by Sergeant Hines, since when, the collector is informed, everything has been quiet there.
I have [etc.]