File No. 812.00/16406.
The Confidential Agent of the Constitutionalist Government to the Secretary of State.
My dear Mr. Lansing: I am in receipt of a telegram from Mr. Carranza relative to the complaint made by the Department of State that a Constitutionalist officer crossed the Rio Grande at Los Pelados, on September 23 last, with a detachment and attacked a small garrison of American troops, with the result that two Americans were killed, one of whom was mutilated and killed on Mexican territory. In reply to the Department’s complaint, Mr. Carranza advises me that he has asked for a report on the matter from the commander of the military zone, because he has no information of the occurrence and in order to take such action, in view of the report, as the case may require. Mr. Carranza directs me, furthermore, to make it clear before the Department that it would be unjust to presume that the acts hereinbefore mentioned, if it is true that they occurred, met with the acquiescence of the Constitutionalist Government. It would seem absurd for the First Chief to cause any friction between the two countries, inasmuch as he has shown by positive deeds his sentiments of frank cordiality towards the American Government. Ever since the beginning of the disturbances in the frontier and with the purpose of avoiding any difficulties, the First Chief has been dictating orders tending to suppress any friction between American and Mexican forces and has omitted no effort to attain the object sought.
With assurance [etc.]