Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, The Lansing Papers, 1914–1920, Volume II

812.00/18516½

President Wilson to the Secretary of State

Washington, 18 June, 1916 .

My Dear Mr. Secretary: I have gone very carefully through this note and think it adequate and excellent. I have here and there altered the wording, but nowhere the meaning of it.

I showed it to Baker last evening, and he makes, after taking it away for careful perusal, the enclosed suggestion, which I think an excellent one. They might as well know at once all that they will be up against if they continue their present attitude.

How will you send this,—by post or wire?

Faithfully Yours,

W. W.

[Enclosure]

The Secretary of War (Baker) to President Wilson

Washington, June 18, 1916 .

My Dear Mr. President: I have read the note with great care. It seems to me fine in substance and manner and makes a strong case.

On the subject of the embargo upon shipments of arms and munitions³¹ would it not be better to say that while a part of its purpose was and is to prevent such supplies falling into the hands of enemies of the de facto Government yet so long as our commanders are menaced by subordinate commanders of the Mexican Government and the Mexican Government itself spends its efforts in threats upon us instead of action against the disturbers of our common peace, we do not propose to allow them to have any munitions from the U. S.

Might they not as well understand at once the fact.

Instances could be cited of the approval of the Chihuahua note by General Carranza;³² the approval of Trevino’s orders to Pershing;³³ the Carranza uniform and papers of the Brownsville raiders³⁴ &c.

Respectfully,

Newton D. Baker

31. For this portion of the note as sent, see Foreign Relations, 1916, p. 586.
32. See ibid., p. 523.
33. See ibid., p. 595.
34. See ibid., 1915, p. 812.