File No. 812.00/17920
Mr. Arredondo to the Secretary of State
Mr. Secretary: Reiterating the conversation I had today with Mr. Polk, Acting Secretary of State, in regard to the crossing of troops into Mexican territory, I am directed by my Government to bring to your excellency’s attention, that the Chief Executive of Mexico is in receipt of reliable information that without the knowledge of or advice to the nearest civil or military authorities, and without any intelligence between the Government of the United States and my Government, an expedition described as punitive, for the purpose of pursuing Villa and his band, has entered Mexican territory, via Palomas. Complying with the above instructions, I am directed to apprise your excellency of the above fact and to say that my Government, upholding, on its part, the propositions contained in its note of the 10th inst., is of the opinion that these terms and conditions of an agreement which should be formally entered into between both countries, have not been fixed concerning the crossing of troops, in order, that one Government and the other should feel authorized to send an expedition. The consent expressed by my Government in regard to the crossing of armed troops over our frontier line, is being erroneously understood by taking it for granted that the crossing of a military expedition in pursuit of Villa has been permitted, and, furthermore, by the intent to have troops move over the line of the Northwestern Railway of Mexico, which runs between Ciudad Juarez and the southern part of the State of Chihuahua, inasmuch as the above-mentioned note states with perfect clearness that this Government is disposed to act within the terms of strict reciprocity, if unfortunately, from now on, any incursions, similar to the one at Columbus or of any other character and at any other point of the line, should occur; therefore, the above-mentioned note should and must not be understood as tolerating or permitting any expeditions into the national territory. I am also instructed to make it clear to your excellency that the Mexican Government cannot authorize right off the crossing into our territory of expeditions of American forces before the terms of the above mutual agreement are definitely and concisely fixed, and I am instructed to assure you, Mr. Secretary, that my Government is studying with the urgency the case demands the propositions of the agreement to be submitted in due form, and as early as possible, so that it may determine for once and at all times the matter in question.
With assurances [etc.]