812.00/18145½: Telegram

General Carranza to Mr. Arredondo 28

[Translation]

Our enemies, having knowledge of the contents of the projected memorandum of agreement between Generals Obregon and Scott29 have continued to organize bands on both sides of the boundary line for the purpose of attacking American detachments and towns in an endeavor to provoke an international conflict. It is urgent that you should speak with His Excellency Mr. Lansing in order to see whether it is possible that a quick agreement may be reached for the vigilance of the boundary and the reciprocal crossing of forces in pursuit of these bands, or at least that Generals Scott and Obregon could come to an agreement with regard to the location and adequate distribution of the forces of one and the other country in their respective territory on both sides of the boundary line in order to keep a watch over it. Please explain to the Washington Government that one Government and the other are equally obliged to prevent the organization of these bands and to endeavor to secure an effective vigilance as incidents such as the one occurring in Boquillas cannot be exclusively charged to the Government of Mexico because it is in [Page 557] American territory that these bands are organized and are causing depredations in one country as well as in the other.

V. Carranza
  1. This paper bears the notation: “Handed me by Mr. Arredondo May 9/16 am. RL.”
  2. See Foreign Relations, 1916, pp. 527547.