File No. 812.0144/85
The Secretary of State to the Mexican Ambassador ( Bonillas)
My Dear Mr. Ambassador: In further reply to your note No. B–959, of February 26, 1918,1 concerning an encounter between [Page 563] smugglers and United States troops guarding the international boundary in the neighborhood of El Paso, Texas, I beg to inform you that the appropriate United States military authorities along the border have concluded an investigation of this matter.
The investigation shows that on the night of January 25, 1918, certain smugglers tried to cross the Rio Grande at an unauthorized place, near El Paso, Texas, carrying with them a number of sacks of sugar. While still on American soil, the smugglers were ordered to halt by the American bridge guard, and, upon their refusal to do so, they were fired upon by the guard’s patrol. However, when the patrol fired at the smugglers, who were then at least 100 yards from the river, on American soil, the former was immediately fired upon by a considerable number of men on the Mexican side of the river.
The investigation further discloses that no machine guns were used, as would appear from your note, by the American patrol; that the firing by the patrol was not in the direction of the City of Juárez; and that, consequently, the firing did not in any way endanger the lives of the inhabitants of that place or make necessary any firing from the Mexican side.
I may add that the American military authorities have orders to prevent persons from crossing into Mexico at unauthorized places, and that if such persons refuse to halt when ordered, as was the case with these smugglers, they invite the obvious consequences incident to their acts.
In conclusion, I regret to have to say that, if, on this particular occasion, any other persons besides the smugglers were injured, it was the result of the unjustifiable action of those who fired upon the American patrol from the Mexican side of the river.
I am [etc.]
- Not printed.↩