File No. 812.00/3090.
The Acting Secretary of State to the American Ambassador.
Washington, March 9, 1912—7 p.m.
Inform Department more precisely as to matters mentioned in your March 6, 10 p.m., and March 7, 10 p.m., as to reason why local authorities are advising foreigners to arm for protection, as to ability of authorities to prevent or control mob outbreaks, and as to what is the particular danger feared.
The Department approves the course you have followed as reported and perceives no necessity for instructing you specifically. It will continue to depend upon your discretion in such new situations as may come about, and will expect you as usual to confer with it whenever circumstances demand explicit instructions. For the present the Embassy should confine itself to admonishing Americans who are perfecting their plans for defense that they are taking these measures solely to protect themselves against the lawlessness of possible mob outbreaks, and particularly that except for the absolute protection [Page 743] of their lives they should most carefully guard against being drawn into the doing of any acts which may be construed as partisan, pointing out the disastrous effects such acts would undoubtedly have upon the lives and property of Americans elsewhere in Mexico.