File No. 312.11/1214.
The American Ambassador to the Secretary of State.
Mexico , March 1, 1913—midnight .
64. Mr. de la Barra called at the Embassy this morning for the purpose of a further discussion of matters referred to in my February 28, midnight. He dictated a memorandum which he proposes to submit to the Cabinet tomorrow, part of which is satisfactory and part is not.
His position in the Colorado River and the Chamizal cases, he states, depends on replies now pending from the Department.
In the Tlahualilo matter he made an inadequate offer of an increase of 30,000,000 cubic meters of water annually and was told that it was not discussable. Mr. de la Barra maintains that the decisions of the Supreme Court could not be questioned or submitted to arbitration.
In the matter of our claims for damages in the Douglas, El Paso, and Alamo cases he will recommend to the Cabinet their immediate settlement, after discussion with the Embassy, according to principles of international law.
In the matter of general claims of American citizens growing out of the revolutions he will recommend that they be settled in a spirit of friendly agreement following the precedents observed by the Government of the United States in similar cases.