File No. 815.77/89.
The American Minister to the Secretary of State.
Tegucigalpa, February 9, 1912.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs has handed me a copy of the communication of Commander Dismukes to the authorities of Puerto Cortés replying to their letter demanding the withdrawal of the armed forces he had landed. The Commander stated in his letter that the forces were landed on his own responsibility and gave his reasons for his actions. The Minister for Foreign Affairs asked the American Minister to intervene, and the American Consul at Puerto Cortés has been advised that the Commander’s action seems to be unwarranted. I recommend that the Commander be directed to withdraw his forces at once.