Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, With the Address of the President to Congress December 2, 1913
File No. 812.00/7109.
The American Ambassador to the Secretary of State.
Mexico, April 2, 1913.
Sir: For the information of the Department I have the honor to transmit herewith copies of the correspondence exchanged with the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Provisional Government of Mexico relative to the retention of American war vessels in Mexican waters.
I have [etc.]
The American Embassy to the Mexican Foreign Office.
It is considered that the bringing up of the question of the United States war vessels remaining in Mexican ports at this time, in view of the fact that the [Page 786] Government at Washington has not as yet formally recognized this Government as a de jure government, is inopportune. The Embassy has recommended the withdrawal of two of the United States vessels now in Mexican ports, but, as the Governor and the Military Commander of the port of Vera Cruz are supposed not to be loyal to the Federal Government, I can not make further representations with reference to the withdrawal from Vera Cruz of another vessel, and, in view of the anti-American spirit in Tamaulipas I can not make representations to the end that the war vessel at Tampico be withdrawn, as the foreign interests there are very large.
It is pointed out that should these war vessels be withdrawn entirely from the eastern coast and then were obliged to return in order to protect foreigners, a very embarrassing if not dangerous situation would arise. Referring to the boat at Acapulco, it is pointed out that if the Mexican port officials and the Federal authorities at that port indicate to the Commander that he is not within regulations in any act which he may perform, any difficulty will disappear.
The recognition of the present Government of Mexico as a de jure government by the Government of the United States is expected daily and it would seem more politic for the present Government in Mexico not to bring up the question of war vessels in Mexico but to await recognition by the Government of the United States.
American Embassy,
Mexico, March 22, 1913.
Shown to the Subsecretary for Foreign Affairs by Nelson O’Shaughnessy.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs to the American Ambassador.
Mexico, March 31, 1913.
Mr. Ambassador: With reference to the conversations that I have had with the First Secretary of the Embassy, in the absence of your excellency, relative to the visit of the American war vessels in the port of Vera Cruz, and with further reference to the telegrams that the Embassy has addressed to the Department of State, I have the honor earnestly to inquire if your excellency will be good enough to inform me whether any reply has been received from your excellency’s Government to the end of proceeding to an extension of the period of one month which the Mexican law allows to foreign war vessels as the limit of continuous stay in its ports.
The Government and the people of Mexico are always disposed to receive the friendly visits of American war vessels, as of all friendly nations, but as the law to which I above refer is exact in its terms it is necessary that I make the present representations.
In the hope that your excellency will appreciate the opinion that I now express, and in the consideration that it is inspired by the sentiments of justice and mutual esteem that rule the policy of both Chancelleries, I avail [etc.]
The American Ambassador to the Minister for Foreign Affairs.
Mexico, April 1, 1913.
Mr. Minister: I have the honor to acknowledge your excellency’s esteemed note No. 5740 of March 31 relative to the retention of American war vessels in the port of Vera Cruz for a longer period than the Mexican law permits without the permission of the Mexican Senate.
On March 20 I received a telegram while in Vera Cruz from the Secretary of this Embassy informing me that your excellency had brought this matter to his [Page 787] attention, and I then replied that in view of the fact that our Government held serious responsibilities toward all classes of foreigners in Mexico, and in view of the further fact that the American Government has not yet formally recognized the Provisional Government of Mexico, I deemed the intrustion [introduction?] of this question at this time as inopportune.
I, moreover, called your excellency’s attention to the fact, as reported to me by the American Consul at Vera Cruz, that the Governor of the State of Vera Cruz and the Military Commander thereof are supposedly not loyal to the Federal Government, and that on this account the removal of these war vessels might at any time encourage rebellious spirits to precipitate a conflict endangering foreign lives and property. Nevertheless I informed your excellency at that time that two of the ships would probably be immediately recalled to American waters, and I notice by the telegraphic despatches of this morning the announcement that all ships in Atlantic waters will probably soon be recalled.
Since the date of this telegram just referred to I have called the attention of my Government to the existence of the law which your excellency had the goodness to cite, but I have as yet received no expression of opinion from Washington. I am therefore obliged to express my regret that I can not at this moment furnish your excellency any definite information, though you may be sure that it would afford me great pleasure to do so.
I take [etc.]
The American Ambassador to the Minister for Foreign Affairs.
Mexico, April 2, 1913.
My dear Mr. de la Barra: Referring to my note No. 6040 of April 1, I have the pleasure of advising you that I am just in receipt of a telegram from the Department of State informing me that the Nebraska has been withdrawn from Mexican waters.
I might say to you that it is no part of the policy of the Government of the United States to offend the sensibilities or to derogate in any measure from the sovereignty of the Mexican Government, and that I regard it as extremely unfortunate that retention of these ships in Mexican waters should at this moment be a matter of public discussion. Conditions in Mexico at the present time are not normal and rules which might have paramount force and acceptance when peace and order hold full sway throughout Mexico must necessarily be suspended or held in abeyance for the moment. Our Government, as you very well know, has heavy responsibilities to its citizens in Mexico and, also, important ones of a secondary character to all foreigners. These must be discharged, and, frankly speaking, I believe that in discharging our duties to these Americans and foreigners we are also contributing materially to the reestablishment of peace in Mexico.
Believe me [etc.]