File No. 812.00/7268.
The Acting Secretary of State to the American Ambassador.
Washington, May 7, 1913—2 p.m.
212. Your April 25, 7 p.m. If you find it necessary to renew representations to the central administration on the subject of the war vessels you will say that the Department believes it not necessary for this Government to request permission for vessels of its Navy to remain for more than one month in Mexican waters. Mr. de la Barra, it is assumed, bases his objections to their presence upon paragraph 16 of article 72 of the Mexican Constitution; but this paragraph apparently does not require the permission referred to. It provides inter alia that the Mexican Congress has power “* * * to consent to fleets of other powers remaining for more than one month in waters of the Republic.”1 This clause refers to fleets or squadrons, not to a single vessel nor to a small number of vessels. Similar clauses are found in other constitutions or laws, and are thus construed. If the Mexican Administration were to manifest a disposition to raise questions as to the prolongation of the stay of American ships here and there in Mexican waters for the purpose of affording local protection in emergencies, it is needless to point out to you how unfortunate it would be, in the present troubled state of affairs in Mexico involving so much peril to Americans and American interests and to other foreigners and other foreign interests.
- The original text reads: “Para conceder o negar la entrada de tropas extranjeras en el territorio de la Federación, o consentir la estación de escuadras de otra potencia, por más de un mes, en las aguas de la República.”↩