Office of the Historian

702.1211 Laredo/37: Telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to the Chargé in Mexico (Johnson)

Washington, January 9, 1930—2 p.m.

7. For Clark. Your January 8 Laredo matter.39 Do the best you can as soon as you can. In regard to suggested phrase the words “committed within the jurisdiction of the United States” do not particularly appeal to me and I would prefer the words “subject to the jurisdiction of the United States.” I agree as to use of diplomatic passports.

I am not worried about basing action upon statements by short tenured state officials as I do not see how anybody could be more provocative than Valls. There is no chance of our adopting a policy of retaliation or reprisal but such a policy is quite in the hands of Texas. Remember the Tex-Mex-Railroad is open to reprisal.

Cotton
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