File No. 812.404/51.
Consul Johnson to the Secretary of State.
Matamoros, January 28, 1915.
Sir: In replying to instructions of the 14th instant in regard to destruction of Church property and the maltreatment of nuns in my district since January 1, 1914, I have to state that since that date, so far as I know and so far as I have been able to ascertain after diligent inquiry, there has been no destruction of Church property or any abuse of nuns in my district. Prior to said date, in 1913, while General Lucio Blanco was commander at this place, there were some things taken out of the church here and the priests were told that the atmosphere at Brownsville, Texas, would be more beneficial to their health than here, and they went over there and have not returned. Shortly after they left there were a number of things taken out of the church and since then the church has been closed. The nuns were permitted to remove all of their furniture to Brownsville and the building they occupied has been used for a hospital. I am reliably informed that the churches in Reynosa, Camargo, Mier, San Fernando and other towns in my district are closed and the priests and nuns are gone.
Respectfully,