Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, With the Annual Message of the President Transmitted to Congress December 3, 1912
File No. 812.00/5480.
The American Consul at Vera Cruz to the Secretary of State.
Vera Cruz, October 25, 1912.
Sir: I have the honor to inclose a series of reports and documents referring to the taking of Vera Cruz by the rebel general Felix Diaz and the retaking from Diaz by the Federal general Joaquin Beltrán.
I have [etc.]
[Untitled]
[Not printed; consists of a continuation of inclosure 1 of the Consul’s No. 768, ante.]
Commander Hughes to the German Consul.
Vera Cruz, October 21, 1912.
Sir: I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 21st instant, requesting me to take under my protection the following properties belonging to German subjects, namely: House Miguel Lerdo No. 8, belonging to Mr. During y Cia. Sues.; House Benito Juárez No. 14–28, belonging to Sommer, Herrmann y Cia. Sues, (site of the German Consulate); House Cinco de Mayo No. 6, belonging to Guillo. Büsing y Cia. Sues. In case the city is bombarded, I shall afford the same protection to the above properties as I shall afford protection to property of American citizens.
I have [etc.]
The German Consul to Commander Hughes.
Vera Cruz, October 21, 1912.
In addition to the request made this morning, asking for protection of German properties upon indication of the German Minister in Mexico City, I herewith beg you to extend the protection of your flag equally over the German steamer Steigerwald, now in port, which serves as a refuge for German and foreign families who deem themselves in danger.
If you consider it necessary that said steamer change its anchorage please advise the captain.
Commander Hughes to the German Consul.
Vera Cruz, October 21, 1912.
Sir: I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 21st instant requesting that I furnish protection to the German steamer Steigerwald.
I beg to inform you that I will afford all the protection within my power to the above vessel, the same as if she flew the flag of the United States, and I [Page 865] have so informed the senior Mexican naval officer and the master of the Steigerwald.
I have [etc.]
Commander Hughes to General Felix Díaz.
Vera Cruz, October 21, 1912.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of this date,1 forwarding a copy of your letter of the same date to the dean of the consular corps, in regard to military operations and the necessary succor in this vicinity.
I have the further honor to accept your assurance that no act of yours will cause me to land an armed force. Such assurance was to be expected from a man of honor and an officer and a gentleman of your reputation.
Having assumed the protection of the foreign residents, I trust that the act of no person will cause me to land a force on the soil of Mexico.
I desire to assure you [etc.]
Commander Hughes to General Beltrán.
Vera Cruz, October 21, 1912.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of a copy of your communication1 to the dean of the consular corps at Vera Cruz, No. 280, and dated October 20, 1912, in which you give the notice, as required by the congress of nations, that you will make an attack on the city of Vera Cruz not earlier than 24 hours after the receipt of said communication.
In the above-mentioned communication you do me the honor of stating your pleasure at the presence of the ship under my command in Vera Cruz, and I thank you for the consideration. That you would fully conform with the civilized usages of warfare was only to be expected from an officer and a gentleman of well-known reputation and high attainments.
I have the honor to inform you that I have assumed the protection of the foreign citizens now resident in Vera Cruz, and, while well knowing that no act of a soldier of Mexico would cause trouble to a foreign noncombatant, I trust that no person will so act, or be allowed to act, as to cause me to use force on the soil of Mexico.
Allow me again to extend my thanks for your great courtesy and consideration and to assure you of my highest regard and esteem.
Very respectfully,
General Beltrán to Commander Hughes.
mixed section of operations, general in chief,
No. 307]
Honorable Sir: I highly appreciate the courteous phrases in your favor of yesterday, and I take note of your just opinion with respect to the Mexican soldiers, who will not permit themselves and will not permit to others any unworthy acts against any foreigners.
[Page 866]The hospitality of the Mexican nation and the justification of the acts of the Government of the North American Republic move me to this acknowledgment of your letter, which I shall communicate to my Government.
I repeat [etc.]
The American Consul to Commander Hughes.
On motion of Mr. Brouzet, the French Consul, which was passed and adoptee! unanimously in to-day’s meeting, I was directed, as Dean of the Consular Corps, to convey to you the following vote of thanks:
The Consular Corps of Vera Cruz thanks Commander C. F. Hughes, of the United States cruiser Des Moines, for his able and efficient work in protecting life and property in the city of Vera Cruz during the storming of said city on the 23d instant by the Government troops.”
And it is my pleasure to comply with the request of said Consular Corps, begging to add my own personal expressions of gratitude to you for your humanitarian service in behalf of all residents of Vera Cruz.
The German Consul to Commander Hughes.
Vera Cruz, October 25, 1912.
I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letters Nos. 368 and 369 appreciating highly your kind offer to protect German properties in this city and equally the German steamer Steigerwald.
At the same time I beg to express my thanks in the name of myself and of all residing German subjects here for your courtesy and readiness to afford us your protection.