612.112/65: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Chargé in Mexico (Summerlin)
129. Department informed by Consul Vera Cruz that customs authorities issued circular February 29 requiring custom house agents and business men in general to report all goods with documents which were despatched during revolutionary control, that this action was taken under Article 6 of the customs regulations for the purpose of applying penalties, and that the Singer Sewing Machine Company, Sanborn Brothers, and the Mississippi Valley Trading Company, American concerns, state that customs authorities will not permit the record of goods before the payment of penalties.
Urgently request the foreign office to despatch prompt orders to Vera Cruz authorities to desist from this effort to penalize American citizens for transacting business relating to exports and imports with persons in de facto authority, as they were clearly entitled to do under the applicable rules and principles of international law.