File No. 812.00/18534b

The Secretary of State to the Argentine Ambassador 22

Excellency: I inclose for your information a copy of this Government’s note of June 20 to the Secretary of Foreign Relations of the de facto Government of Mexico on the subject of the presence of American troops in Mexican territory. This communication states clearly the critical relations existing between this Government and the de facto Government of Mexico and the causes which have led up to the present situation.

Should this situation eventuate into hostilities, which this Government would deeply regret and will use every honorable effort to avoid, I take this opportunity to inform you that this Government would have for its object, not intervention in Mexican affairs, with all the regrettable consequences which might result from such a policy, but the defense of American territory from further invasion by bands of armed Mexicans, protection of American citizens and property along the boundary from outrages committed by such bandits, and the prevention of future depredations, by force of arms against the marauders infesting this region and against a Government which is encouraging and aiding them in their activities. Hostilities, in short, would be simply a state of international war without purpose on the part of the United States other than to end the conditions which menace our national peace and the safety of our citizens.

Accept, [etc.]

Robert Lansing
  1. Same to the diplomatic representatives in Washington of Brazil, Chile, Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Paraguay, Salvador, Uruguay, and Venezuela.