File No. 312.67/60.
Consul Letcher to the Secretary of State.
Chihuahua, September 19, 1915.
Sir: Having reference to the Department’s telegram of September 17, 1915, in which I was instructed to use my good offices in the interest of protection for the property of Mr. Jacob E. Touche, a subject of the Turkish Empire, I have the honor to report that I have now directed a note to Governor Avila asking that consideration be shown Mr. Touche in respect to his property interests in this city. I might note that Mr. Touche is a large holder of property here, but has been a refugee from this city since December, 1913, when he fled at the approach of the Constitutionalist troops, then under the general command of General Villa. In connection with the present instructions I venture to call attention to the correspondence regarding this case, going back now for several months, Mr. Touche having appealed to this office for aid in securing protection for his property soon after the occupation of Chihuahua by General Villa, which occupation was soon followed by the sequestration of all property owned by Mr. Touche. The complainant in this case was formerly a concessionaire of the gambling privilege for the State of Chihuahua, and it is understood that the present authorities found their hostility to him on the ground that he gained his wealth through the gambling privilege indicated, and certain vague charges are claimed to stand against Mr. Touche which warrant the action already taken by the authorities.
The particular act of destruction to which Mr. Touche’s present complaint refers is the anticipated razing of a part of a valuable two-story building owned by him which is located in the principal business quarter of this city, for the purpose of widening the street upon which such building faces. It is true that the plans projected will result in very serious damages to the building referred to.
It is proper to observe that Turkish subjects domiciled in Chihuahua at the present time are having recourse to the honorary German Consul in cases requiring the assistance of consular officers, it being understood that an arrangement to this effect now subsists through the fact of the alliance existing between the Ottoman and the German Governments. Formerly, under instructions given this Consulate in 1913, this office frequently was called upon to exercise its good offices in the interests of Turkish subjects.
I have [etc.]