File No. 812.0144/133
The Acting Secretary of State to the Mexican Chargé (Rojo)
Sir: In further reply to the Mexican Ambassador’s note No. A–3353, of November 8, 1918, concerning a complaint that, on October 21, 1918, a group of American soldiers stationed near the international boundary opposite Barrancos de Guadalupe, Mexico, fired across the border and caused the death of a Mexican citizen named Guadalupe Machuca, I have the honor to inform you that the appropriate branch of this Government has investigated this matter and has reported that a United States Army patrol, while in the performance of its duty on the American side of the river, was fired upon by Mexicans from the Mexican side of the international boundary line. The American soldiers returned the fire, killing one of the Mexicans.
The authorities who made the investigation state that, in their opinion, the members of the patrol acted in self-defense and were justified in returning the fire of the Mexicans.
Accept [etc.]