File No. 812.404/22.

The Secretary of State to the Reverend R. H. Tierney.

Sir: The Department acknowledges the receipt of your letter of October 17, 1914, with which you enclose a statement outlining conditions in Mexico. You ask this Government to rescue the priests and nuns who took refuge at Vera Cruz, and also that this Government withhold its recognition of any government in Mexico which does not grant real freedom of worship.

In reply you are informed that the Department has carefully considered your letter and its enclosures.

With reference to the priests and nuns who had taken refuge at Vera Cruz, the Department would advise you that orders have been issued by the Secretary of War to General Funston to convey all priests and nuns who desire to leave, to the United States, and it is the understanding of the Department that this order has been complied with.

Regarding your request that this Government withhold its recognition of any government in Mexico that does not grant real freedom of worship, the Department informs you that it will defer final decision as to whether or not to accord recognition to a government in Mexico until the time shall have arrived for making such a decision. When that time arrives, the Department assures you that the question of religious freedom in Mexico will receive due consideration.

The Department has shown your letter with accompanying enclosures to the President, and it has received from him a written reply in which he says:

I am distressed that our Catholic fellow-countrymen do not more fully realize how frequent and serious our attempts have been to act in the interest of their people in Mexico.

I am [etc.]

W. J. Bryan.