File No. 312.11/8343
Mr. Parker,
representing American interests, to the Secretary
of State
No. 642
Mexico City,
December 27, 1916.
Sir: I have the honor to refer to the
Department’s telegraphic instruction 550, of November 14, 1916,6
relative to the protection of American property in the Yaqui Valley of
the State of Sonora, and to enclose herewith a copy of my note to the
Foreign Office, dated November 15 [10], and translations of the two
notes which I have received from the Foreign Office in the matter, dated
respectively December 8 and 13.
I have [etc.]
[Inclosure 1]
Mr. Parker to the
Minister for Foreign Affairs
No. 212
Mexico City,
November 10, 1916.
Your Excellency: I have the honor to refer
your excellency to the contents of my note No. 166, of October 26,
wherein, by instruction received from my Government, I had the honor
to enumerate certain fatal depredations committed by the Yaqui
Indians of the State of Sonora upon various American-owned
properties situated in that State. I also would refer your
excellency to note No. 876, dated November 6, communicated to me
over your excellency’s signature, in which note it was stated that,
in view of the fact that certain treaties of surrender were being
brought to an end with the Yaqui Indians in rebellion against the
Constitutionalist Government, the tranquility of the State of Sonora
had not been interrupted. The contents of this latter note were
transmitted immediately to my Government.
I now have the honor to inform your excellency that I am in receipt
of a telegram from the Honorable the Secretary of State of the
United States, instructing me to point out to your excellency’s
Government that it has failed to reply to the request of the
Department of State to be informed concerning the action
contemplated by the de facto Government for
the protection of American property in Sonora, and that such a reply
is desired at once.
I am further instructed to inquire of your excellency’s Government
how it can be stated that there has been uninterrupted tranquility
in the State of Sonora in view of the depredations upon American
properties as set forth by my note No. 166, above referred to.
I have the honor to request your excellency’s early response.
I avail [etc.]
[Page 1018]
[Inclosure 2—Translation]
The Subsecretary of Foreign
Affairs to Mr. Parker
No. 37
Querétaro,
December 8, 1916.
Mr. Representative: Replying to note No.
212, dated November 15, last, in which Vuestra Señoría stated
advices had been received to the effect that the Yaqui Indians
continued to commit depredations in the State of Sonora, I am
pleased to inform you that the citizen military commander of said
entity has been urgently recommended to impart protection to
properties in that region, national as well as foreign.
I am pleased to renew [etc.]
[Inclosure 3—Translation]
The Subsecretary of Foreign
Affairs to Mr. Parker
No. 52
Querétaro,
December 13, 1916.
Mr. Representative: With reference to your
kind note No. 212 dated November 15, last, relative to the
information presented to the Department of State of the United
States concerning the fact that the Yaqui Indians had recently
committed depredations upon American properties located in the Yaqui
Valley, State of Sonora, I am pleased to inform you that, having
addressed myself, in connection with this matter, to the citizen
military commander of said entity, as I informed you in my note No.
37, of the 8th instant, said chief advises this office that it is
not true that the tranquillity of that region had recently been
altered, and that the properties of nationals as well as of
foreigners enjoyed ample protection.
I repeat to you the assurances [etc.]
