File No. 812.516/121
The Secretary of State to the French Ambassador
Washington , April 27, 1916 .
Excellency: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your excellency’s note of April 10, 1916, in which you request me to represent to General Venustiano Carranza the advisability of fulfilling the promises contained in Consul John R. Silliman’s telegram of January 1, 1 p.m., relative to relieving the banks of issue in Mexico from the requirements of redeeming their notes in silver, et cetera.
In reply I have the honor to inform your excellency that I sent a telegram to Mr. James Linn Rodgers, the Department’s representative near General Carranza, on April 22, 1916, directing him to report on the financial situation, especially with reference to Mexican banks of issue. On April 25, 5 p.m. Mr. Rodgers telegraphed that he had been informed officially that a decree establishing a moratorium would be issued in the near future. Inasmuch as little or no American capital appears to be invested in the institutions mentioned in your excellency’s note, I do not deem it advisable to send additional instructions to Mr. Rodgers at this time.
Accept [etc.]