File No. 812.00/5333.
The Acting Secretary of State to the American Chargé d’Affaires.
Washington, October 26, 1912—10 a.m.
Your October 23, 1 p.m. Navy Department requested to hold in readiness for east-coast waters two vessels in addition to the Des Moines at Vera Cruz and the Tacoma at Tampico, one of light draft for service along the Yucatan Peninsula, the other a larger vessel; and four vessels to cover the west-coast ports of Guaymas, Mazatlan, Manzanillo and Salina Cruz. The Department does not feel justified in requesting the Navy Department to order these vessels at once to Mexico, as there would appear to be nothing in the local situation at any of the ports named to warrant the sending of vessels there for the protection of Americans and American interests and they could not plausibly be sent for any other purpose. You will continue to keep the Department closely informed as to the situation, however, so that action may be taken without delay if necessary.