812.00Sonora/555: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Consul at Nogales (Damm)
Your strictly confidential telegram of April 5, 4 p.m. has been taken up with Department of Labor which advises that no instructions have been issued by that Department ordering holding of board of enquiry to examine and exclude all civil and military officers of revolution applying for admission into the United States. Labor Department points out that a Board of Special Enquiry cannot be ordered to exclude.
Since responsibility of properly classifying persons applying for visas and the granting or refusing immigration visas to them rests under the law upon American consular officers you should consider all applications for immigration visas as is provided for in Section 2 (a) and 2 (f) of Immigration Act of 1924. Department’s March 14, 5 p.m. [Page 388] instructed you in a sense that would require a strict enforcement of the Immigration Act, a policy which had already been determined upon by this Government.
You may make such use of the foregoing as you deem advisable and you will impress upon any who have intimated or may intimate that American citizens may suffer because of any action of this government, that as stated to you in the Department’s March 29, 6 p.m.42 this Government has taken steps so that de facto authorities may not, after maltreating American citizens or their property or interests in Mexico, find immunity for their acts in a safe refuge in the United States. Also point out that the Government of the United States will seek infliction of due and proper punishment upon all persons responsible for the violation of those rules and principles of international law applicable to situations such as now exist in your district.