The present proclamation differs somewhat from the one issued on
October 19, 1915,33 in that it
applies to the whole of Mexico and gives specific authority for
United States military authorities to assist in its enforcement.
This latter change is urged by the Secretary of War.
I have added a final paragraph to the proclamation, with the view to
economize your time in the matter of making numerous exceptions to
the provisions of the proposed embargo, and in order that the
Department may have full authority in the handling of shipments of
explosives for industrial and other purposes in Mexico. I may add
that this draft has been approved by the Attorney General and by the
Secretary of War, and that the latter has repeatedly asked that the
proclamation be issued at an early date.
Inasmuch as the War Trade Board has relinquished its control over
shipments of munitions to Mexico, and in view of the renewed
activities of Villistas in the State of Chihuahua, and because of
the receipt by the Department of a number of reports to the effect
that munitions of war are being smuggled across the border for use
by Villistas in Chihuahua and Yaqui Indians in Sonora, I strongly
recommend that the proclamation be issued without delay.
Proclamation No. 1530, July 12, 1919,
Declaring Unlawful the Exportation to Mexico of Arms or
Munitions of War
By the President of the United
States of America
A PROCLAMATION
Whereas, a Joint Resolution of
Congress, approved March 14th, 1912, reads and provides as
follows:—“That whenever the President shall find that in any
American country conditions of domestic violence exist which are
promoted by the use of arms or munitions of war procured from
the United States, and shall make proclamation [Page 552] thereof, it shall be unlawful
to export except under such limitations and exceptions as the
President shall prescribe any arms or munitions of war from any
place in the United States to such country until otherwise
ordered by the President or by Congress;”34
And whereas, it is provided by Section
II of the said Joint Resolution, “That any shipment of material
hereby declared unlawful after such a proclamation, shall be
punishable by a fine not exceeding ten thousand dollars, or
imprisonment not exceeding two years, or both;”34
And whereas, by an Act of Congress,
approved June 15th, 1917, it is provided as follows:
“Whenever an attempt is made to export or ship from or
take out of the United States, any arms or munitions of
war, or other articles, in violation of law, or whenever
there shall be known or probable cause to believe that
any such arms or munitions of war, or other articles,
are being or are intended to be exported, or shipped
from, or taken out of the United States, in violation of
law, the several collectors, naval officers, surveyors,
inspectors of customs, and marshals, and deputy marshals
of the United States, and every other person duly
authorized for the purpose by the President, may seize
and detain any articles or munitions of war about to be
exported or shipped from, or taken out of the United
States, in violation of law, and the vessels or vehicles
containing the same, and retain possession thereof until
released or disposed of as hereinafter directed. If upon
due inquiry as hereinafter provided, the property seized
shall appear to have been about to be so unlawfully
exported, shipped from, or taken out of the United
States, the same shall be forfeited to the United
States.”35
And whereas, by the same Act of
Congress, it is provided in Section 8 thereof as follows:
“The President may employ such part of the land or naval
forces of the United States as he may deem necessary to
carry out the purposes of this title.”36
Now, therefore, I, Woodrow Wilson,
President of the United States of America, acting under and by
virtue of the authority conferred in me by the said Joint
Resolution and Act of Congress, do hereby declare and proclaim
that I have found that there exist in Mexico such conditions of
domestic violence promoted by the use of arms or munitions of
war procured from the United States as contemplated by the said
Joint Resolution and Act of Congress; and I do hereby admonish
all citizens of the United States and every person to abstain
from every violation of the provisions of the Joint Resolution
and Act of Congress above set forth, hereby made [Page 553] applicable to Mexico, and I do
hereby warn them that all violations of such provisions will be
rigorously prosecuted.
And I do hereby enjoin upon all officers of the United States,
charged with the execution of the laws thereof, the utmost
diligence in preventing violations of the said Joint Resolution
and Act of Congress and this my Proclamation issued thereunder
and in bringing to trial and punishment any offenders against
the same. And I direct and authorize the officers and enlisted
men of the Army of the United States to observe like diligence
in preventing such violations and in causing offenders to be
turned over to the appropriate civil authorities for trial and
punishment according to law.
And I do hereby delegate to the Secretary of State the power of
prescribing exceptions and limitations to the application of the
said Joint Resolution of March 14, 1912, as made effective by
this my Proclamation issued thereunder.
In witness whereof, I have hereunto set
my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be
affixed.
[seal]
Done in the District of Columbia this
twelfth day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand nine
hundred and nineteen and of the Independence of the United
States of America the one hundred and forty-fourth.
By the President:
Frank L Polk
Acting
Secretary of State.
