File No. 812.00/21884
The Ambassador in Mexico ( Fletcher) to the Secretary of State
972. Minister for Foreign Affairs in an interview yesterday referred to recent border difficulties, especially those near Ojinaga [,Chihuahua] which have involved the killing of a number of Mexican citizens and soldiers, and said that he believed these difficulties were fomented by enemies of the present Mexican Government in the United States, that President Carranza had directed him to inform me that the Mexican Government was not seeking a quarrel with the United States and was anxious to avoid all difficulties of this kind, and that strict orders had been given to the Mexican troops not to fire on persons on the American side, and he hoped similar orders might be given to our troops. He said that our consuls recently had published an order to the effect that all persons crossing the river at any other place than the bridges would be fired on, and that it was unsafe for any Mexican to approach the river bank on the Mexican side. He said that he did not mean this so much as a protest as an informal conversation designed to bring [Page 558] about an improvement of border conditions and to avoid further bloodshed.
Please instruct me to say that our Government reciprocates President’s desire and also that activities of enemies of Mexican Government in the United States will be sternly repressed.