File No. 312.67/29.
The Chargé d’Affaires of Turkey to the Secretary of State.
The Turkish Chargé d’Affaires presents his compliments to the Honorable Secretary of State and has the honor to inform him that a certain J. E. Touche residing at El Paso, Texas, an Ottoman Syrian, has applied to the Embassy for protection and assistance saying that part of his holdings in Mexico has been confiscated by order of General Francisco Villa at the time of the entrance of the latter’s forces into Chihuahua on December 1913.
As the said Jacob E. Touche informs the Embassy that he has also written to the Department of State on the same subject and received a reply to the effect that action in the matter will be taken only on receipt of a request from this Embassy, the Turkish Chargé d’Affaires accordingly hastens to say that he will feel very grateful to the Secretary of State if he will be good enough to direct the United States representative in Mexico to investigate fully into the matter and act in accordance with the requirements of the case with the view of safeguarding the interests of the said Jacob Touche.
Washington , March 30, 1915.