702.1211 Laredo/8: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Chargé in Mexico ( Johnson )
545. Department’s 544, December 17, 1 p.m. Following telegram dated December 17 received from Governor of Texas:
“Am advised that the Mexican Government has today closed the consulate at Laredo. Am further advised that the port of Laredo has been closed to the extent that merchandise has not been allowed to pass from Laredo through the port and that the entry of tourists has been restricted. I assume that this is a result of the threatened arrest of former President Calles. You are aware that the attitude of the people of Texas toward the people of Mexico is a most friendly one. The citizenship of Laredo in particular is sympathetic with the problem of Mexico and friendly to the people of Mexico as is evidenced in part by the fact that citizens of Laredo had planned a public reception for President Calles upon his arrival in the city yesterday. The fact that his train did not stop in Laredo I understand prevented the reception. Perhaps sixty percent of the citizenship of Laredo is of Mexican extraction and many of the inhabitants of the city of Laredo, I am advised, are citizens of Mexico. Laredo is an important port city of the southern border of the United States and I believe that Nuevo Laredo is an important port city on the northern border of the republic of Mexico. The people of Texas and the people of Laredo would like to continue the commerce and pleasant relations which have heretofore existed between the citizenship of this state and the citizenship of the republic of Mexico. I appeal to you as the public officer in charge of foreign relations that you take up with the Mexican Government the matter of reopening the Consulate and the port and the continuation of past relations.”
Department has sent following reply today.
“Your telegram of December 17. Please refer to my telegram of December 14 on this subject and your answer.
[Page 521]I appreciate the unfortunate effect which the closing of the Mexican Consulate at Laredo will surely have on the economic situation of the communities at the border at that point. The question involved is one of Mexican administrative concern and it seems, so far as I can now develop it, that the Mexican reason for the action as stated to me is not in any sense an attempt at retaliation for a single incident but because they feel that from several incidents lasting over a considerable period of time Laredo is not a safe point for their public citizens to pass in traveling. Apparently they also feel that traffic can be diverted without too great difficulty to other border points. The Mexicans find it difficult to understand that you have not found it possible in the past either by your authority or your advice to ameliorate the conduct of the legal officers of the county. I am not sure what can be effectively done but perhaps it would help if we were in a position to make clear that the idea which the Mexicans seem to entertain about Laredo not being a safe place for its public citizens to travel is erroneous. If any effort can be taken along that line I wish you would advise me. In the meantime I am taking steps to see what if anything may be wisely done but you will from this telegram appreciate the difficulty that seems to stand in the way.”
You may show this telegram to Mr. Estrada when you see him. We hope that news emanating shortly from Laredo may be of such a nature as to bring about reopening of Mexican Consulate there.