File No. 812.0144/90
The Secretary of State to the Mexican Ambassador ( Bonillas)
Excellency: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your excellency’s note A–1827, of April 26, 1918, with which you enclose correspondence from the Mexican Consul General at El Paso, Texas, in further relation to a report that American troops, in April last, fired upon Mexican soldiers in the vicinity of Guadalupe, State of Chihuahua, Mexico, and that several persons on the Mexican side of the Rio Grande lost their lives as the result of such firing.
In reply I have the honor to inform your excellency that a translation of your note and a translation of its enclosure have been forwarded to the appropriate branch of this Government, for its consideration in connection with previous correspondence sent to it on the subject.
In this connection I have the honor to say to your excellency that the investigation of this occurrence thus far made by this Government, and based on your note No. A–1667, of the 16th ultimo, shows that the firing was started by Mexican soldiers; that the American patrol returned the fire; and that the casualties suffered on the Mexican side of the river were the result of the unjustifiable action of the Mexican soldiers in firing upon the American patrol. This Government’s investigation further discloses that, prior to the incident under discussion, 10 Mexican soldiers invaded the territory of the United States, shot a Mexican caretaker of Harris Bros.’ cattle ranch, stole a watering trough and some peanut cake belonging to this firm, and drove their horses through the firm’s wheat field.
Accept [etc.]