File No. 812.00/20447d
The President to Mr. Franklin K. Lane, Secretary of the Interior.24
Washington, August 31, 1916.
Sir: I desire to express my sincere appreciation of your willingness to act as one of the three special commissioners of the President of the United States to discuss with the commissioners of the de facto [Page 608] Government of Mexico the settlement of the questions arising out of the Mexican situation, and to make known to you my earnest hope for the success of your conferences with the other members of the American-Mexican Joint Commission.
In order that this letter may serve as your credential in acting in this high capacity, I announce to all who may read this letter that you are hereby authorized to take part in the conferences of this Commission as a special representative of the President of the United States, and that you are to be regarded as in every way speaking at his request and as enjoying his entire confidence.
Cordially and sincerely yours,
- Same, mutatis mutandis, to Mr. George Gray and Dr. John R. Mott.↩