Mr. Clayton to Mr.
Hay.
Embassy
of the United States,
Mexico, August 28,
1902.
No. 1555.]Sir: Referring to my dispatch No. 1485, of July
26 last, and to Department’s instruction No. 762, of the 18th instant,
relating to consular officers over whom I have supervisory jurisdiction,
and the propriety of my requesting them to report to me promptly and
directly all cases of denial of justice or invasion of the personal or
property rights of American citizens within their respective
jurisdictions, I have the honor to transmit herewith copies of
communications
[Page 830]
addressed by me
to the consuls-general at Mexico City and Monterey, and to the consul at
Vera Cruz upon the subject. Communications similar to that sent to the
consul at Vera Cruz were also sent to the other consular officers under
my supervisory jurisdiction. Whatever difference may exist between the
aforesaid communications and the course which I proposed taking as
stated in my dispatch above referred to I hope will meet with the
approval of the Department.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure.]
Mr. Clayton to
United States consular officials in
Mexico.
Embassy of the United States,
Mexico, August 27, 1902.
Sir: For the purpose of procuring prompt
information at this embassy of all cases of denial of justice or
invasion of the personal or property rights of any American citizen
within the jurisdiction of your consulate-general (consulate), you
are respectfully requested to report to this embassy, as soon as
practicable, all such cases as may come to your knowledge, either
directly or through the consular officers over whom you have
jurisdiction, together with statements of such facts relating
thereto as you may be able to gather from the sources at your
command. The foregoing, however, is not applicable to such cases as
may be undergoing fair and reasonably expeditious investigation by
the proper judicial authorities, or to cases where the injured
citizen has neglected to seek the judicial remedies accorded by the
laws of Mexico. Upon complaint being made in such latter cases, it
might be well to notify the complainant that before he can receive
the intervention of his Government he should seek and exhaust said
judicial remedies.
Please communicate the above information to the subordinate consular
officers within your jurisdiction with appropriate instructions for
the effective accomplishment of the aforesaid purpose.
This instruction is given with the approval of the Department of
State.
Very respectfully, yours,
