File No. 812.00/11988.
Admiral Mayo to General Zaragoza 4
Tampico, April 9, 1914.
This morning an officer5 and squad of men of the Mexican military forces arrested and marched through the street of Tampico a commissioned officer of the United States Navy, the Paymaster of the U. S. S. Dolphin, together with seven men composing the crew of the whaleboat of the Dolphin.
At the time of this arrest the officer and men concerned were unarmed and engaged in loading cases of gasoline which had been purchased on shore. Part of these men were on the shore, but all, including the man or men in the boat, were forced to accompany the armed Mexican force.
I do not need to tell you that taking men from a boat frying the American flag is a hostile act not to be excused.
I have already received your verbal message of regret that this event had happened, and your statement that it was committed by an ignorant officer.
The responsibility for hostile acts can not be avoided by the plea of ignorance.
In view of the publicity of this occurrence, I must require that you send me, by suitable members of your staff, formal disavowal of and apology for the act, together with your assurance that the officer responsible for it will receive severe punishment. Also that you publicly hoist the American flag in a prominent position on shore and salute it with twenty-one guns, which salute will be duly returned by this ship.
[Page 449]Your answer to this communication should reach me and the called-for salute be fired within twenty-four hours from 6 p.m. of this date.