File No. 312.115/252
Consul Canada to the
Secretary of State
No. 1452
American Consulate,
Vera Cruz,
April 28, 1916.
Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith
enclosed a copy and a translation of a printed communication over the
names of The Colonel Chief of Arms, I. P. Laxalde and the President of
the Board of Civil Administration, Jesus Marin, dated “Jalapa-Enriquez,
April ________, 1916,” on which the address was omitted, calling upon
[Page 778] the persons and firms
whose names appear at the bottom of the communication, to contribute the
amounts shown therein opposite each name, respectively.
This circular letter was sent to Arbuckle Brothers’ agency at Jalapa,
State of Vera Cruz, by the city officials and a copy was furnished this
consulate by the representative here of that firm with the request that
we bring the matter to the notice of the Department.
Special attention is called to what is undoubtedly an implied threat, in
the closing sentence of the letter. The only conclusion to be drawn from
the veiled threat, especially considering that the first name to the
circular is that of the chief of arms, is that, if the people addressed
decline to comply with the request to contribute to this fund, the
necessary action will be taken to force them to pay the amounts
specified.
I have [etc.]
[Inclosure—Translation]
[Untitled]
In agreement with the Board of Civil Administration and in view of
the distress which the poorer classes are suffering on account of
the scarcity of cereals, this office of the chief of arms has
determined to appeal to the persons whose names are shown on the
reverse side hereof, requesting that they kindly render assistance
to remedy the conditions referred to.
The authorities mentioned have held conferences with persons of this
place as well as of Coatepec and Teocelo, and it has been decided to
make up a fund of not less than $500,000.00, five hundred thousand
pesos, which will be used to import American corn with the least
possible delay and to retail it at cost. A board has been organized
to undertake the importation to which we refer and it will be
charged with the administration of the fund which will be collected,
as well as with the proceeds of the sales.
The amount that we solicit will be returned to the persons who
contribute same, once the corn from the next harvest is available
and we do not expect that said amounts will suffer a shrinkage of
any kind, as we are disposed to furnish the facilities and
guaranties for the transportation of corn; and only in the case of
accident or force majeur may loss of the fund
be experienced by destruction or loss of a car with merchandise; but
we repeat, we hope to return the entire amounts which we
solicit.
As the importation should be made at once, we beseech you to be good
enough to deliver, within three days, to the branch in this city of
the National Bank, the amount assigned to you; bearing in mind that
the sooner this petition is complied with, the more effective will
be the assistance. And, although we are thoroughly convinced that
the rates shown do not really involve a sacrifice, these authorities
will take into account the good will of those who attend to this
request with due rapidity; in the same manner that they will be
disposed to require, by other means, the aid of such persons who
give signs of not preoccupying themselves for the public
welfare.
I. P. Lizalde,
The Colonel Chief of Arms
Jesus Marin,
The President of the Board of Civil
Administration
(Here follows a list of the names of the persons and firms
referred to in the first paragraph of above communication, with
the amounts, which such persons and firms are requested to pay,
shown opposite their names, the list containing the
below-mentioned American firms:)
| Arbuckle Brothers |
$10,000.00 |
| Pan Mexican Coffee Co. |
10,000.00 |
| Pierce Oil Corporation |
5,000.00 |
