Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, With the Address of the President to Congress December 7, 1915

File No. 812.00/15284.

Consul Schmutz to the Secretary of State.

[Extract]

No. 322.]

American Consulate,
Aguascalientes, June 15, 1915.

Sir: I have the honor to report that notwithstanding the boasted protection given to foreigners and foreign property which General Villa speaks of in his reply to President Wilson’s note, he continues to issue confiscatory decrees. * * *

Yesterday a foreign local merchant, Nicolás Allende, an Ottoman subject, who owns a grocery and provision store, had his stock confiscated because he failed to submit an inventory of his goods to the authorities. I have written a letter of protest to General Villa against the confiscation of the stock of Nicolás Allende, but so far have had no reply. I also wired and wrote to the German Consul in San Luis Potosí, whom I understand has been placed in charge of the interests of Ottoman subjects in this district, but have not yet had time to hear from him and I suppose by this time Allende’s store is completely looted.

I have [etc.]

Gaston Schmutz.