File No.312.11/1031c.
The Secretary of State to the American Ambassador.
Washington , January 7, 1913—5 p.m.
Referring to Mr. O’Shaughnessy’s letter of December 28, 1912, and attached memorandum.1 The Department does not fully share some of the views which, it infers from the memorandum, you expressed to Mr. Lascurain. The Department deems it best at present to press individual cases as occasion requires pending that future time when a general settlement with Mexico may be necessary. Mr. Lascurain made a decidedly favorable impression. At the interviews with the President and at the Department it was sought to impress upon him that Mexico must protect American life and property; do justice to American citizens; restore order; respond to the great moral obligation to be especially considerate of American interests and promptly meet this Government’s requests in specific cases; and, in general, exemplify that friendliness, earnestness and efficiency in protecting American interests necessary to justify before public opinion the continuance of the signally friendly and patient policy of the United States. Mr. Lascurain seemed sincerely anxious to make every effort along the lines suggested.
- This memorandum (without the letter, which merely covered it) is printed in For. Rel. 1912 at page 985.↩