File No. 8.12.00/17415
The Secretary of State to Special Agent Silliman
Washington, March 13, 1916, 3 p.m.
Your March 10, midnight. You are instructed to reply as follows to Secretary Acuña’s note of March 10:
The Government of the United States has received the courteous note of Señor Acuña and has read with satisfaction his suggestion for reciprocal privileges to the American and Mexican authorities in the pursuit and apprehension of outlaws who infest their respective territories lying along the [Page 488] international boundary, and who are a constant menace to the lives and property of residents of that region.
The Government of the United States, in view of the unusual state of affairs which has existed for some time along the international boundary and earnestly desiring to cooperate with the de facto Government of Mexico to suppress this state of lawlessness, of which the attack on Columbus, New Mexico, is a deplorable example, and to insure peace and order in the regions contiguous to the boundary between the two Republics, readily grants permission for military forces of the de facto Government of Mexico to cross the international boundary in pursuit of lawless bands of armed men who have entered Mexico from the United States, committed outrages on Mexican soil, and fled into the United States, on the understanding that the de facto Government of Mexico grants the reciprocal privilege that the military forces of the United States may pursue across the international boundary into Mexican territory lawless bands of armed men who have entered the United States from Mexico, committed outrages on American soil, and fled into Mexico.
The Government of the United States understands that in view of its agreement to this reciprocal arrangement proposed by the de facto Government the arrangement is now complete and in force and the reciprocal privileges thereunder may accordingly be exercised by either Government without further interchange of views.
It is a matter of sincere gratification to the Government of the United States that the de facto Government of Mexico has evinced so cordial and friendly a spirit of cooperation in the efforts of the authorities of the United States to apprehend and punish the bands of outlaws who seek refuge beyond the international boundary in the erroneous belief that the constituted authorities will resent any pursuit across the boundary by the forces of the Government whose citizens have suffered by the crimes of the fugitives.
With the same spirit of cordial friendship the Government of the United States will exercise the privilege granted by the de facto Government of Mexico in the hope and confident expectation that by their mutual efforts lawlessness will be eradicated and peace and order maintained in the territories of the United States and Mexico contiguous to the international boundary.
Sent in duplicate to you and Belt.