File No. 125.8273/38d.
The Secretary of State to the Brazilian Minister at Mexico City.
Washington, May 5, 1914.
The Department is in receipt of a telegram from the American Consul General at Monterey stating that Vice Consul Silliman is in prison at Saltillo, together with several other American citizens. Please bring this to the attention of the appropriate authorities at once and represent in the strongest possible manner the necessity for immediate action. There can be no possible excuse for the imprisonment of this officer except political antipathy on the part of those responsible for his arrest. The Consul General at Monterey was himself imprisoned for several days prior to the occupation of that [Page 662] city and he was only released when the Constitutionalists took possession of the city. Please insist on immediate action.