File No. 812.6363/57d.
The Secretary of State to Special Agent Carothers.
Washington, May 8, 1914, 9 p.m.
Recent events have impressed upon the Department the great necessity of establishing and maintaining a reliable means of communication between this Government’s ships outside the bar near Tampico and its consular representative on the mainland, for humanitarian reasons as well as for those of policy. Many representations have been made to the Department during the last few days by those conducting oil operations in and about Tampico that it is absolutely necessary for them to get money into the hands of their representatives, in order that they may pay salaries to employees, and royalties to lessors for the purpose of preventing confiscation of properties owned by them or cancellation of leases resulting from alleged or actual failure to comply with their contracts.
You will represent to General Carranza the necessity of establishing communication between Tampico and the fleet, so that the lives and interests of foreigners, including Americans, may be properly protected; and say that it is desired to station a ship with wireless apparatus installed thereon near Tampico in order to establish the necessary means of communication, and you will request him to give his assent thereto.
You will also request his permission to send small despatch boats between the fleet and Tampico, so that money and messages may be taken from beyond the bar into Tampico and vice versa.
You will say to General Carranza that no offensive measures are contemplated by this Government, in order that he may rest assured that the suggested plan of communication between the fleet and this Government’s representative on the mainland is made for the purposes above stated, and with a desire to assist in preserving the important oil fields in and around Tampico.