File No. 412.00/2.

The American Ambassador to the Secretary of State.

Serial 672.]

Sir: I have the honor to inform the Department that it has come to the knowledge of the Embassy, through a communication from the American Vice Consul at Manzanillo, that the Mexican Department of Government is seeking, through the Governors of the various States and certain other officials, information as to the extent and character of foreign claims growing out of the late revolution. As the Consul at Manzanillo requested instruction, and as it also seems advisable that there should be uniformity of action in this matter on the part of all Consular officers, I have to-day addressed to the [Page 932] various Consular officers in this country an instruction, a copy of which I enclose herewith.

I have [etc.]

Henry Lane Wilson.
[Inclosure.]

The American Ambassador to American Consular Officers in Mexico.

The attention of the Embassy having been called to the fact that the Department of Government has requested of all Mexican officials throughout the country a full report as to the damages suffered by foreigners in their persons and property, as a consequence of the recent revolution, desires to say to the American Consular officers in Mexico that if they should be called upon by the State Governors or other Mexican officials for information relative to the damages suffered by American citizens, they should comply with the request by furnishing a list of such cases as have come to their knowledge, stating at the same time that such action is purely provisional, as all discussions relative to claims must necessarily be carried on by the Embassy at Mexico City, which reserves all rights of reclamation for damages suffered, pending the receipt of definite instructions from the Department of State at Washington.

Henry Lane Wilson.