File No. 1230s4/123.
Arrived safely by special train last night. I transmit below translation
of note tendered me by Foreign Office, breaking off relations; also my
reply thereto.
[Inclosure 1—Translation.]
The Minister for Foreign
Affairs to Chargé O’Shaughnessy.
Foreign Office,
Mexico,
April 22, 1914.
Mr. Chargé d’affaires: As you assuredly
know, the marines of the American ships of war anchored in the port
of Vera Cruz, availing themselves of the circumstance that the
Mexican authorities had given them access to the harbor and to the
town because they considered their presence was of a friendly
character, disembarked yesterday with their arms and uniforms and
possessed themselves by surprise of the principal public buildings
without giving time for the women and children in the streets, the
sick, and other non-combatants to place themselves in safety.
This act is contrary to international usages, for if these do not
demand, as held by many states, a previous declaration of war, they
impose at least the duty of not violating humane considerations of
good faith by people whom the country in which they are has received
as friends and who therefore should not take advantage of that
circumstance to commit hostile acts.
According to international law, those acts of the armed forces of the
United States (which I do not care to qualify in this note in
deference to the fact that you have personally observed toward the
Mexican Government and people the most strictly correct conduct so
far as has been possible for you in your character of representative
of a Government with which such serious difficulties as those
existing have arisen) must be understood as the initiation of war
against Mexico.
This Ministry reserves to itself the right of presenting to the other
powers the events and the considerations pertinent to this matter,
in order that they, as members of the concert of nations, may judge
the conduct of the two nations and adopt the attitude which they may
deem proper.
In view of this deplorable outrage upon the national sovereignty the
President of the Republic has seen fit to determine, as I have the
honor to communicate to you, that the diplomatic mission which until
now you have discharged is concluded, and that you will have the
goodness to retire from Mexican territory.
To that end I enclose your passports, at the same time informing you
that, as is the diplomatic custom on such occasions, a special train
will be at your disposal with a guard sufficient to protect you,
your family and your staff, although the Mexican people is
sufficiently civilized to respect you and those accompanying you
even without this protection.
I avail [etc.]
José López Portillo y
Rojas
.
[Inclosure 2.]
Chargé O’Shaughnessy to the Minister
for Foreign Affairs.
American Embassy,
Mexico,
April 23, 1914.
Mr. Minister: I have the honor to
acknowledge the receipt of your excellency’s note of yesterday,
informing me that owing to the fact that the armed
[Page 491]
forces of the United States of America
have occupied the port of Vera Cruz, my character as Chargé
d’Affaires ad interim of the United States of America has terminated
and that I am to withdraw from the territory of the United Mexican
States, and at the same time transmitting to me my passports.
I beg to inform your excellency that I have telegraphed the American
consular representatives resident within the United Mexican States
to leave Mexican territory, and that I have entrusted this Embassy
to His Britannic Majesty’s Legation in Mexico City, which diplomatic
mission will, as occasion may require, care for all American
interests in the United Mexican States.18
I avail [etc.]
