File No. 812.00/15547.

The Acting Secretary of War to General Funston.

[Telegram.]

The War Department realizes perfectly the undesirability from a military standpoint of the restriction that is placed upon you in not giving you permission to cross the Mexican border in case it should become necessary to use force to protect American life and property on the American side of the line. But this restriction is imposed on account of the necessity of retaining in the hands of the authorities at Washington the final discretion of authorizing a matter of such importance as an invasion of Mexican territory. Under all the circumstances the only thing to do is to meet the facts as they arise and in case of an attack on a border town endangering American life and property keep the Department constantly and immediately advised of the development of the situation. Meanwhile you are authorized to make such military movements of the troops under your command as you deem necessary.

Breckinridge.