File No. 812.00/7182.
The Secretary of State to the American Consul at Durango.
Washington, April 19, 1913.
Your April 18. While the Department will be obliged to depend to a large extent upon your discretion as to the action it may be necessary [Page 794] to take in such dire extremity as may come about, you are nevertheless informed that you should admonish Americans that such measures as they may take for their defense should be measures solely to protect themselves against the lawlessness of mobs and outlaws, and particularly that, except for the absolute protection of their lives, they should most carefully guard against being drawn into the doing of any acts which might be construed as partisan; and there should be pointed out to them the disastrous effects such acts would undoubtedly have upon the lives and property of Americans elsewhere in Mexico. They should be reminded finally of the responsibility upon them of being absolutely disinterested and strictly non-partisan. You will if necessary make this Government’s position clear to the Governor.
The Embassy at Mexico City is being instructed urgently to request that sufficient troops be dispatched immediately to Durango to provide prompt and adequate protection for Americans.