File No. 812.516/108
The Secretary of State to Special Agent Silliman
Washington, December 18, 1915, 6 p.m.
Department reliably informed National Bank of Mexico is being compelled to pay its bills of exchange in gold, while it has been obliged to accept current paper money for nearly two years. Payments mentioned in metallic currency will result in ruin of bank. Further, such action may cause the ruination of Mexico’s credit abroad and create chaos in Mexico.
Place the foregoing immediately before General Carranza and impress upon him the urgent necessity of giving the greatest consideration to all cases of this nature, which may cause the de facto Government great embarrassment in its efforts to rehabilitate the country financially.