File No. 312.41/150.
Collector of Customs Cobb to the Secretary of State.
After receiving word from Colonel Avila, commander in Juarez, Mexico, that General Villa had authorized commission to proceed to Chihuahua on regular train which had been held, Percival, Hambleton, Manley, Davidson, Thomason, Worsham, commissioners, and Mrs. Benton, accompanied by Mr. Minnehan, went to Juarez to take train at about 11 a.m. We went to office of Colonel Avila [Page 858] where he and Frederico Gonzalez Garza, his legal representative, with their attendants, received British Consul, Percival, Hambleton, Minnehan and me. They confirmed statement that Villa had authorized passage today but stated that Villa must have done so under misapprehension that Carranza had authorized same although Carranza had not done so in fact. Gonzalez Garza said he would wire report to both Carranza and Villa today but that commission could not proceed without first obtaining permission from Carranza.