File No. 839.00/1071.
[Untitled]
Washington, March 1, 1914, 4 p.m.
The Department’s February 27, 10 p m. Upon further consideration the Department is of the opinion that it would be unwise for you to accompany any commission sent by Bordas to treat with Arias. Therefore you are instructed not to accompany commission but to lend it all aid looking to its proceeding to Puerto Plata, and you are furthermore instructed to confer with the commander of the Petrel who will have received orders to convey the commission to the north should such a course be considered necessary.
If the commission is not successful in its mission to arrive at an agreement with Arias, have Commander of the Petrel before returning notify him that you desire his presence in the capital to confer with him upon important matters and that if he should refuse to come at the request of the Government of the United States that that Government will, if necessary, have to consider him as unfriendly to it and will take such appropriate action as is deemed expedient by the President of the United States of America. Arrange with Bordas for safe conduct of Arias in case he visits you.