File No. 611.129/47.
The Secretary of State to Special Agent Belt.
Washington, November 11, 1915.
In several recent cases which Silliman, under instructions, brought to the attention of the de facto Government, he was told matters should be taken up with Governors of States in which they occurred.
The Department considers that diplomatic representations to officials of political subdivisions, such as states or provinces, are regular only in exceptional cases, but should be made to the central government, and that it is the obligation of the de facto Government of Mexico, in keeping with established usage, to entertain and act upon representations made to it by this Department, concerning matters occurring in the several states of the Mexican Republic.
Appropriately suggest this to General Carranza.