File No. 312.67/57
[Inclosure.]
Special Agent Silliman to the Foreign
Office.
No. 278.]
Vera Cruz,
August 26,
1915.
My Dear Mr. Secretary: Referring to
the summary execution of three Ottoman subjects by General
Obregon, Mexico City, on the 16th of February, 1915.
[Page 1085]
At the time, and at the instance of the Ottoman Colony in Mexico
City, I spoke to General Obregon in behalf of these Syrians, who
were brought in from San Juan del Río, charged with being spies.
I was, unfortunately, a little too late in seeing the General,
who informed me that just a short time previous to my call the
men had been executed. He added that if he had known that they
were foreigners he would have ordered a more formal examination,
but that he only knew of their nationality through my
representation and regretted that it was too late.
I have the honor to inform you that I am in receipt of a
communication from the Honorable Alvey A. Adee, Acting Secretary
of State of the United States, dated July 23, in reference to
this case, and also in reference to representation for Ottoman
subjects in this country who are without an accredited
representative from their own Government.
I am instructed to say, as a result of the Ottoman Government
entrusting to representatives of the Government of the United
States the care of Ottoman interests in Mexico, that I am
authorized to use my good offices in behalf of subjects of the
Ottoman Empire in any case of grievance that may come to my
knowledge. This instruction also applies to all other consular
officers of the United States in their respective districts.
I am also instructed by the Honorable Secretary of State of the
United States to lodge a protest, unofficially, against the
summary execution of the Ottoman subjects above referred to,
which took place in the city of Mexico on the 16th of February,
1915.
I have [etc.]
Not signed.
[
John R.
Silliman.
]
