File No. 812.00/14824.

Special Agent Silliman to the Secretary of State.

[Telegram.]

Referring to my April 5, 5 p.m. In the informal conferences the Constitutionalist rejoinder to the argument for a return of the Mexican Railroad to the Company and for resumption of communication with Mexico City may be summarized as follows:

First. The railway administration and service at present is entirely military. It is subject to strict military orders and discipline. [Page 688] Should there be any unwillingness, neglect or disobedience or any suspected disloyalty, appropriate punishment can be immediately inflicted, even execution if necessary. This would not be practicable if the Company were operating the road with their own administration and their own service.

Second. Whether the Constitutionalists or the Company were operating the road, it would be wholly impossible in spite of every restriction to prevent the passing back and forth of spies and correspondence that would convey to the enemy a knowledge of the Constitutionalists’ affairs, plans and military movements.

Third. Railroad service between points which are respectively within the lines of the opposing forces is entirely without precedent, and the Constitutionalists cannot consider it.

Obvious conclusions from the informal conferences:

1.
The Mexican Railroad will be operated indefinitely by the Constitutionalists.
2.
The discontinuance of train service with Mexico City will continue until such time as the Constitutionalists deem proper.
3.
It is my opinion, in which Mr. West concurs, that if the road is to be returned to the Company at any time soon, or if railway communication between Vera Cruz and the City of Mexico is to be resumed at any time soon, neither the one nor the other is to be expected from the voluntary action of the Constiutionalists, even if they occupy Mexico City.

Silliman.