File No. 704.9312/10. No. 667.] AMERICAN EMBASSY, SIR: With reference to the Department's telegraphic instructions of May 27 last, in which it was indicated that there would be no impropriety, in the event that no objection was offered by the Mexican Government, in the use of good offices by the American consular agent at Torreón on behalf of Chinese, I have the honor to advise the Department that when a condition menacing the safety of the Chinese residents of Tapachula was reported to the embassy, on May 24 last, I considered in view of the above-mentioned instructions that I was not overstepping the bounds of propriety in calling the attention of the foreign office to their predicament, especially on account of the fact that certain of these Chinese possessed American citizenship. I inclose to the Department herewith copy of a note which I addressed the foreign office, and beg to say that the foreign office in replying has stated that all necessary steps will be taken to protect the lives and property both of Americans and Chinese. I have [etc.], HENRY LANE WILSON. File No. 704.9312/10. [Inclosure.] The American Ambassador to the Minister for Foreign Affairs. AMERICAN EMBASSY, Mexico, June 2, 1911. Mr. SUBSECRETARY: I have the honor to inform your excellency that this embassy is in receipt of telegraphic advices from the American consul at Tapachula indicating that there is a complete absence of authority at that place and that conditions there are serious. He states that there are murmurs on the part of the lower classes against the Chinese and that the president of the Chinese colony, which numbers 500, is an American citizen, and that he, together with the members of his colony, is fearful that they will be massacred, and has requested asylum at the American consulate in case of danger. In view of the foregoing I earnestly request that your excellency will do whatever is possible to have American lives and property in Tapachula immediately and adequately protected. It would seem that on humanitarian grounds such action as is possible should be taken in behalf of the Chinese, in order to prevent a recurrence of so regrettable an incident as that recently taking place at Torreón. I avail, etc., HENRY LANE WILSON. File No. 151.07/3. The Chinese Chargé d'Affaires to the Secretary of State. CHINESE LEGATION, Washington, June 27, 1911. SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note of the 13th instant, with reference to the application of Wong Foon Chuck and Wong Jon Kin, merchants of Torreón, Mexico, to be 1 Not printed. allowed to reside at Eagle Pass, Tex., until the disturbances at Torreón cease, informing the legation that it has been the practice of the American immigration authorities on the Mexican border to allow Chinese residents in Mexico, whether of the merchant class or not, to take refuge in the United States. This action of the American authorities has given the desired relief to the Chinese residents in Mexico in the present disturbed condition of that country and is sincerely appreciated by the Imperial Government. Accept [etc.], YUNG KWAN. File No. 704.9312/10. The Secretary of State to the American Ambassador. No. 408.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, SIR: The Department has received your No. 667 of June 19, 1911, reporting the effort made by you to secure protection for the lives and property of Americans and Chinese at Tapachula, Mexico. Your action is approved. I am [etc.], P. C. KNOX. File No. 704.9312/11. The Secretary of State to the American Consul at Ensenada. No. 9.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, SIR: The Department has received your dispatch No. 11 of June 27, 1911, requesting a copy of the instruction to your predecessor, Mr. George B. Schmucker, authorizing him to look after the interests of Chinese subjects in the consular district of Ensenada. The Department does not appear to have sent specific instructions on this subject, but at the request of the Chinese minister at this capital all consular officers in Mexico are desired to render such assistance as may be possible to Chinese subjects in Mexico. I am, etc., (For Mr. Knox.) ALVEY A. ADEE. PERMISSION TO FOREIGNERS IN PRISON TO BE VISITED BY CONSUL OR DIPLOMATIC OFFICER.2 File No. 812.0441/1. The American Consul General at the City of Mexico to the Secretary of State. No. 453.] AMERICAN CONSULATE GENERAL, SIR: I have the honor to transmit herewith that part of the Diario Oficial of July 22, 1910, which gives the new order to the governors 1 Not printed. See the same subject under Guatemala. of the several States to permit the consul to visit a prisoner, even though he is "incomunicado." The Department will appreciate the meaning of this order, because heretofore the law of Mexico has been that a prisoner shall be kept "incomunicado " 72 hours, without being allowed to see and talk with the consul, his family, friends, or lawyer. I have [etc.], ARNOLD SHAN KLIN. [Inclosure.] Circular Order to Governors of States. [Translation.] DEPARTMENT OF GOVERNMENT, Merico, First Section, Circular No. 693. The department of foreign affairs has addressed a communication to this department stating that in cases of incommunication of prisoners awaiting trial the judges, exercising the authority which the code of criminal procedure gives them, are inclined frequently to make the incommunication too strict and uselessly severe; and as such strict application of the law to foreigners may cause diplomatic claims to be made in their behalf, the department of foreign affairs urges that the governors of States recommend to the judges therein that as a general rule all prisoners held for trial, whether nationals or foreigners, when incommunicate, should be given every relief consistent with the object of the incommunication; that they should be allowed, where there is no reason against it, to communicate verbally or by writing with other persons; that if foreigners they should preferably communicate with the diplomatic and consular agents of the country to which they belong; and that in general the inconveniences and privations of prisoners should be reduced to what is strictly unavoidable. I have the honor to communicate the foregoing to you for recommendation to the judges of the State which you worthily govern. Liberty and Constitution. JULY 22, 1910. CORRAL. File No. 812.0441/3. No. 253.] The American Ambassador to the Secretary of State. - AMERICAN EMBASSY, Mexico, November 18, 1910. SIR: Referring to the Department's instructions No. 124 of October 20 last,1 directing me to ascertain whether or not it is true that in the future all foreigners who may be imprisoned in Mexico will be allowed to communicate with their respective diplomatic or consular officers, I have the honor to transmit to the Department herewith a copy, in original and translation, of a communication from the department of government stating that foreigners in Mexican prisons may communicate with the diplomatic and consular officers of their countries. I have [etc.], HENRY LANE WILSON. 1 Not printed. [Inclosure.] The Mexican Department of Government to the Mexican Minister for Foreign Affairs. DEPARTMENT OF STATE And GovernmENT, Mexico, First Section, No. 694. On this date the following circular was addressed to the governors of the States: [The inclosure set forth above in the consul general's dispatch here follows.] I have [etc.], MEXICO, July 22, 1910. The Secretary of State to the American Ambassador. CORRAL DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, April 17, 1911. SIR: The Department has received your No. 253, of November 18, 1910, transmitting a note1 from the department of government stating that in future foreigners in Mexican prisons may communicate with the diplomatic and consular officers of their respective countries. 2 I inclose for your information a copy of an instruction which the Department has addressed to the minister at Guatemala City requesting him to make representations to the President of Guatemala, with a view to bringing about a similar modification of the system of "incomunicación" which prevails in that country. I am, etc., P. C. KNOX. 1 This refers to the communication to the Minister for Foreign Affairs; there was no other inclosure. See page 275. MOROCCO. PROPOSAL TO THE UNITED STATES TO ADHERE TO THE FRANCOGERMAN CONVENTION OF NOVEMBER 4, 1910, RELATIVE TO MOROCCO. File No. 881.00/4831. The French Ambassador to the Secretary of State. [Translation.] FRENCH EMBASSY, Washington, November 3, 1911. Mr. SECRETARY OF STATE: As a result of the disturbances that have taken place in Morocco and demonstrated the necessity of there pursuing, in the interest of all, the undertaking of pacification and progress contemplated by the act of Algeciras, the Government of the French Republic had to take, recently, various measures, the main ones of which have been brought to your excellency's knowledge, either orally or in writing. All aimed at maintaining order and the normal development, on a footing of perfect equality, of the economic interests of the powers concerned. Pourparlers to the same end were recently entered into by the Government of the Republic and the Imperial German Government. It was agreed from the beginning that the arrangements that might come out of those pourparlers should immediately be submitted to the adhesion of the powers interested. By order of my Government I have the honor to inform your excellency that the agreement1 sought has just been concluded, and I inclose its text. As you will notice, the agreement is intended to facilitate for France the execution of the task of pacification and reorganization, which circumstances place it particularly in her power to prosecute. The freedom of trade provided by the treaties shall, under the terms of the agreement, be firmly maintained and my Government has bound itself not to connive at any inequality either in the assessment of customs, duties, imposts, or other taxes or in the drawing up of tariffs of railways or any other transportation. France will likewise use her interest with the Moroccan Government to prevent any differential treatment of the citizens or subjects of the powers, and notably to secure for them participation on equally favorable conditions in proposals for contracts and supplies of materials. Knowing that the Government of the United States seeks nothing more in Morocco than the development of the economic interests of its citizens, as has always been proclaimed by the highest authorities of this country, as your excellency was pleased yourself to remark to me repeatedly, my Government fondly cherishes the hope that the arrangement of which the text is inclosed, and which affords the 1 Not printed, |