File No. 312.52/481.
The Secretary of State to the Spanish Ambassador.
Washington, December 10, 1914.
My Dear Mr. Ambassador: I regret to inform you that the Department has received a telegram from the American Consul Bevan at Tampico stating that Vicente Vidal and Eduardo Sabugal, Spanish subjects, were shot in Tampico December 8 pursuant to orders from Governor Caballero to Colonel Francisco Gonzales, the chief [Page 835] military official at Tampico. Mr. Bevan stated that Colonel Gonzales told him on the night of December 7 that he did not know upon what charge the men were held. It appears also that the Spaniards told the Vice Consul that they were absolutely ignorant of the cause of their detention.
It appears further that Mr. Bevan addressed a despatch to Governor Caballero on December 3 in behalf of these Spanish subjects, and of another named Julian Zorilla, who is still under arrest, but that his despatch had not been answered at the time of the shooting. In a later telegram from Tampico, dated December 9, 9 a.m., Mr. Bevan quotes General Caballero’s reply to his representations, reading as follows:
Referring to individuals mentioned in your telegram, I have documents that prove their complicity in a movement of General Carrena Torres. Request that you advise all foreigners to remain absolutely neutral for I am disposed to punish very severely those guilty.
The Vice Consul adds that General Carrena Torres is in command of the forces of General Francisco Villa at Juanave, State of Tamaulipas, and is conducting a campaign against General Caballero.
Immediately after the receipt of these telegrams, the Department sent telegraphic instructions to the American Consul at Vera Cruz, directing him to request General Venustiano Carranza to inform him immediately of the reason for the execution of these Spanish subjects, and to ask him to give immediate orders that no summary measures be taken against Mr. Zorilla. The Vice Consul at Tampico was also instructed to insist that the local authorities there shall take no summary measures against this Spanish subject.
I am [etc.]