File No. 812.00/10023.
The Mexican Embassy to the Department of State.1
The Consul at Naco tells the Inspector of Consulates at El Paso, Texas, the following:
That the American authorities at Naco, Arizona, continue to protect the rebels, and he bases the statement on the following facts:
That they cross the boundary-line with impunity carrying provisions and ammunition without being molested by the authorities; that they hold their revolutionary meetings in the saloon of John Newell, [Page 882] Deputy Sheriff, without any measure whatever being taken by that officer, notwithstanding the Consul’s vigorous protests; it is hard to explain how the contraband of munitions is so frequent and so large, in spite of the increased patrol, and how in the majority of cases contraband is done with automobiles which night after night and many times in the night come to Naco from Bisbee.
There is something else that can not be explained, and that is that when the secessionists attacked Naco, they opened their trenches or “loberas” within American territory more than one hundred feet north of the boundary-line and just at the place where it is marked by one of the monuments; of this the American officers hold photographic proof. That on the day of the final assaults, delivered on April 13 of this year the assailants effected their offensive march through American territory, taking advantage of the darkness of the night, and for that reason the defending troops refrained from firing their arms, naturally believing that they had to do with a patrol of American negroes, and were not undeceived until the assailants rushed into the town keeping up a heavy fire, which the patrol did nothing to prevent, proof of which can be produced in plenty, as several houses of Naco, Sonora, close to the boundary-line and facing north, bear unmistakable marks of the terrific musketry fire to which they were exposed. On that same day there was found in the yard of William Campbell’s house that is parallel with the line the dead body of a rebel with his arms, hand grenades, etc., whose tracks showed he had come from that town, making toward the Mexican side; Justice of the Peace Edward A. Folsom had the body removed, speaking to Commander Obregón for the purpose.
These facts and many others seem to prove that the local authorities as well as the majority of the inhabitants of Naco, Arizona, are favoring the rebels.
Public opinion points to Justice of the Peace Folsom as the one who does them the greatest service.
Washington , November 26, 1913.
- Referred, December 6, to the Attorney General and the Secretary of War.↩