702.1211 Laredo/33a: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Chargé in Mexico (Johnson)
2. For J. Reuben Clark, Jr. In confirmation of my telephone conversation, I now request that you take up and actively press with the Government of Mexico for the reopening of the Mexican Consulate at Laredo, Texas. It is doing untold damage to innocent people and is not hurting the people for whom it is intended. I am now in a position to give an assurance to the Government of Mexico that in the future holders of diplomatic passports will be fully respected at Laredo.
For your information I base this promise on oral and written statements made to me by the Honorable Dan Moody, Governor of Texas, and made, through the Governor of Texas, by District Attorney Valls. I do not think it advisable, even if it were in our power, to force the resignation of Attorney Valls …
The entire matter has become very important, involving the existence of the town of Laredo. The action of Mexico is, of course, hurting Mexican interests as much as it is hurting American interests, and if you cannot succeed in getting the Government of Mexico to change its position, I fear reprisals along that border.
See Calles and use every reasonable effort to bring about results.