Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, With the Annual Message of the President Transmitted to Congress December 5, 1899

Mr. Clayton to Mr. Hay.

Embassy of the United States,
Mexico, September 20, 1899.

No. 335.]

Sir: I have the honor to inclose herewith a clipping¹ from the Mexican Herald of to-day, reporting the proceedings of the two Houses of Congress yesterday, in joint session, granting the President a leave of absence of twenty days with permission to visit the United States to attend the Chicago festivities, also appropriating $100,000 for his expenses should he accept the invitation lately extended to him.

In this connection I have the honor to report that I called upon the President on the 18th instant, and during the course of the interview I alluded to the question of his accepting the invitation. He remarked that he was yet in doubt as to his action; that the Presidential, gubernatorial, and judicial elections were approaching, and that he had upon his hands an uprising of the Yaqui tribe of Indians, and was about to inaugurate a military movement for the subjection of the Mayo Indians in Yucatan, who were defying the national authority; that his going would depend upon the condition of affairs existing at the time of his decision. I asked him, in case it should turn out that he could not go, which I hoped would not be the case, whether one or more members of his cabinet would go. He answered in the affirmative.

In an interview with Mr. Mariscal yesterday I incidentally brought up the same question. He alluded to the fact that Mrs. Diaz is confined to her bed with sickness, and that the doctors thought she would be so indisposed for two or three weeks, and that he thought the question of the President’s acceptance would depend upon the condition of her health at the time of his decision.

I am still of the opinion that the President’s acceptance is very problematical. However, in the event he should decide to go, and in view of the fact that a formal invitation was extended to me by the Chicago committee to attend, I should like to know the views of the Department as to what will be expected of me in such an emergency. I have been informed by one of my diplomatic colleagues that it is customary in Europe where one sovereign visits another for the diplomatic representative at the capital of the visiting sovereign to accompany him. While I have no wishes to express, I have deemed it proper to bring the matter to your attention.

I have, etc.,

Powell Clayton.

1. Not printed.