File No. 812.00/11540.
The Secretary of State to Chargé O’Shaughnessy.
Washington, April 18, 1914, 1 p.m.
757. Replying to your No. 860, April 17, 11 p.m. Say to General Huerta that the President is greatly disappointed at his failure to make prompt and willing reparation for the insult offered American sailors at Tampico, the offense being still further aggravated by the subsequent arrest of a United States mail carrier at Vera Cruz. Time has been given in the belief that General Huerta would on reflection accede to the very reasonable demand of Admiral Mayo. Your telegram just received indicates that this Government’s forbearance has been misinterpreted. The request for a simultaneous salute is, under all the circumstances, as unjustifiable as the arrest of the American sailors and makes it impossible to consider further delay. You will therefore say to General Huerta that unless by six o’clock p.m. Sunday, April 19th, he announces his intention to comply with Admiral Mayo’s demand, the President will on Monday lay the matter before Congress with a view to taking such action as may be necessary to enforce the respect due the nation’s flag. If General Huerta reconsiders the position taken he can arrange the details of the salute with Admiral Mayo. If on the contrary he adheres to the position he has taken you will at once make the contents of this telegram known to the representatives of foreign governments and send a paraphrase of it to all our consulates in Mexico so that it may be communicated to American citizens, who should at the same time be reminded of the President’s advice to withdraw from Mexico until order is restored. Inform us promptly as to General Huerta’s attitude and answer.