702.1211 Laredo/19A: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Chargé in Mexico (Johnson)
550. Department’s 545, December 18, 7 p.m. Associated Press despatch from Austin of December 19 states in part as follows:
“Enrique Santibañez, Mexican Consul General at San Antonio, said today that unless District Attorney Valls resigns or the charges of conspiracy to murder against Calles are dropped the embargo against the port of Laredo will stand.”
The Mexican Ambassador who called this morning to thank Department for steps taken to safeguard person of General Calles was orally informed that Department felt American and Mexican Consular officers should be advised to make no further statements with respect to the incident under reference.
The following telegram received from Governor of Texas this morning:
“Have just received telegram from President of Laredo Chamber of Commerce advising that at a meeting of directors held today a resolution was passed from which the following is taken:
‘Be it resolved that whereas the Laredo Chamber of Commerce and citizens of this city have at all times fostered friendly relations with the people and officials of Mexico it is their desire that cordial relations both business and social be continued. Be it further resolved that the commercial interests of Laredo deeply regret the unfortunate incidents that have prompted the Mexican Government to remove its consular office at Laredo and to adopt other retaliatory measures and respectfully urge that former relations be restored as the people of Laredo should not be held responsible for actions over which they have no control under the laws of Texas. Be it further resolved that it is our wish that proper respect and courtesy be shown at all times by our public officials to the representative of the government of Mexico.’
The closing of the port at Laredo involves infinitely more than one of Mexican administrative concern. Laredo is one of the most important ports on the border between the United States and Mexico and if you will consult the railroad maps you will see what the closing of this port means to transportation and to commerce. Your examination of the railroad maps will convince you that it is purely [apparent omission] to contend that the traffic which normally passes through Laredo can be diverted to other border points without great [Page 523] difficulty. It is a long way from El Paso to Eagle Pass and from Eagle Pass to Laredo and from Laredo to Brownsville. Many millions of dollars have been invested upon the faith of Laredo as an uninterrupted port on the Mexican border. It is evident that this action on the part of Mexico is retaliatory in its nature and I am surprised that its officials would undertake to tell you that any other purpose moved them. Literally thousands of citizens of both nations have passed through Laredo unmolested and this should continue. There are several hundred thousand Mexican citizens living in peace and happiness in Texas today. Several thousand live in Laredo and Webb County. The attitude of the people of Texas is entirely friendly toward Mexico and we would like for this friendly relation to continue. It is hoped that the general government at Washington has a policy with reference to foreign relations that will not permit the Mexican Government to profess friendliness toward the United States and at the same time offer the affront of closing the door at one of the principal ports between the two nations.”
The following is text of Department’s reply:
“I note the papers as quoting certain statements by a Mexican Consul in regard to Laredo and have asked the Mexican Ambassador as far as may be [possible] to stop his consuls and subordinate officers from making any statements whatever as I fear these men are going farther than their governments desire in making a bad situation worse, and I think any publicity which is not aimed at healing the difficulty and curing the sources of complaint would be unfortunate. What can I say to the Mexican Government with authority as to your own relations with Valls and your own lack of sympathy with the position which he has assumed in the past in these cases?
It seems to me the chief difficulty in persuading Mexico is that there is nothing that justifies me in telling them that the same sort of thing that has happened will not happen again.”