File No. 312.11/4269.
The Secretary of State to the German Ambassador.
Washington, May 9, 1914.
My Dear Mr. Ambassador: The Department has to-day been informed, through the courtesy of the British Embassy, of the alleged killing of J. V. Kelley, an American, Assistant Manager of the El Favor Mining Camp near Hostotpaquillo, State of Jalisco, Mexico, and two British subjects, C. B. Hoedley and Patrick Baird, employees of the Mining Camp; and of the alleged injury of Walter Neal, a Canadian, Manager of the El Favor Mining Camp, and G. E. Williams, an American, an employee. The British Embassy also states that Mr. Neal has with him at the mines his wife and two children; and that there are seven other employees at the mines, five of them American citizen’s and two British subjects, who are believed to be in prison.
I have also received a telegram from Messrs. McKeever Brothers, of Boston, Massachusetts, relating to this same matter, and in compliance with their request a telegram was immediately despatched to the Brazilian Minister in Mexico City asking him to investigate the report mentioned. The British Vice-Consul at Guadalajara has also been asked to report on conditions at Hostotpaquillo.
I understand that there are a number of German subjects living in that District who might be in a position to furnish information in regard to the reported deaths of these American citizens and British subjects, and it has occurred to me that you might be willing to cause instructions to be sent to the German Consular Officer at Guadalajara to come in touch with the Germans within his District and ascertain, if possible, the facts of the case.
I should insist, of course, that any expenses incurred in our behalf by your representative in connection with the investigation should be borne by this Government, inasmuch as Guadalajara is about forty miles distant from the El Favor Mining Camp and it might be necessary to employ the services of a messenger to obtain the desired information.
Assuring you of my appreciation of any assistance which you may be able to afford in obtaining information on the subject, I am [etc.]