The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-03-21
INTELLIGEvCE BIZ THE MAILS
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DOCUMENT +.
THE INSTRUCTIONS
OF THE
HON. JAMES BUCHANAN
THE SECRETARY OF STATE,
TO THK
HON. JOHN SLlDELL.
DEPARTMENT or STATE,
WAsHIN0ToN, November 10, 1915

DEPARTMENT Or STATE, Z
WAsHINoToN, November 10, 1916.
transmit herewith, copies Of despatch addressed
by me under date tho 18th September lsi5, to John
Black Esq., Consul Of the United States at the city
Mexico Of note written by the Consul the Mexican
Minister for Foreign Affairs dated October 49, 1915
and OF the OF that minister under date October
is, l615
From these papers, you will perceive that the Next
can government have accepted the Of the Pre-
sden for settling all the questions In dispute between
the two republics by negooiation and that conseq
the has In which your
OF the trust rendered you by the President Is to take
effect. You will, therefore, repair without delay ia
your post and present yourse to the Mexican govern
ment as the Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenpo
In the present crisis Of tho relations between the two
Countries the office for which you have been selected is
OF foreign powers exerted against the interests of the
United states In Mexico and to restore those ancient
relations Of peace and good will which formerly existed
between the governments and people Of the sister
publics, viii be the principal objects of your mis-
zion The wrtched condition Of the internal affairs of
Mexico and the that exists between
her and the ministers France and
to render the present propitous for the
accomplishment of these objects From your perfect
knowledge of the language OF the country your well
known 1rmness and ability and your taste and talent
for society the President hopes that you will accomplish
much in your intercourse with the Mexican authorities
and people. The ready and decided stand which the
people of the United States and their governmn took
and maintained favor Of tho independents OF the
Spaniah American republics this continent secured
their gratitude and good will Unfortunate events have
rince esrAnged from the sympahes Of the Mexican
people They ought to feel assured that their prosper
ty prosperity, and that but have tho
strongest desire to them elevated under free
bic, aud republican government to high rank among
the nations Of the earta.
The nations on the continent Of America have int.
rests peculiar to themselves Their free forms 60
institutions of Europe. The interests and indepen-
donca Of these sister nations require that they should
establish and maintain an American system Of policy,
for their own protection and security entirely distinct
from that which has 60 long prevailed in Europe To
tolerate any interference the part Of European
roigns with controversies la America to permit them
ply the worn-out dogma of tho balance Of power
to the free States on this Continent ind abcve
ALL to suffer them to establish new colonies Ct
their own intermingled with our free republics would
be to make to the same extent voluntary sacrifice OF
our independence. There truths ought everywhere,
throughout the continent e America, to be i'm
pressed the public mind IT, therefore, 10 the
of your with Mexico that should
propose the mediation guarantee of any European
pows: you to reject the proposition without hests
tou The Uated States will afford by thor con-
duct the slightest pretex for any interference from that
quarter In American concerns. Separated az We are
from the Old World by vast ocean, and still further
moved from it by the nature of political Institutions
the march of free governments this continent must
of European powers Liberty here must be allowed to
work out its natural results and these long, will
astonish tho world Neither is it for the interest
those powers to plant colonies this continent No
settlements of the kind exist long The expansive
energy Of Institutions must spread owe. them
The ooonists themselves will break from the mother
country to become free and independent States ANY
European nation which should plant new colony on
this continent would thereby tho seeds OF troubles
and uproars, the injury from which to her
terests would far outweigh all the advantages which she
could possibly promise herself from any such establish
ment.
The first subject that will demand your at.
tention Is the claims of citizens in Mexico
1t would be useless here to trace the history OF
these claims, and the outragss from which they
,prng. The archives of your legation will furnish ali
necesssry information this subject The history
of no civilized nations presents, in so short period Of
lima off fho
and property have been endured by citizens of the
United States from the Mexican authorities. These
would have been tolerated from any nation the
face OF the earth, except from neighborng and sister
republic.
President Jackson in his message to the Senate, OF
the 7th February. 1887 uses tue following language
with great justice and truth 1.-THE length Of time since
of the uries have been committed the repested
and unavaiing applications for redress the wanton cha
racter of Of the outrages the property and
persons Of citizens, upon he officers and flag of tn,
United States independent Of recent insults to this
vernment and people by the late extraordinary
minister would justify in the eyes of all nations immo
diate war"
St he unwilling to resort to this last extremity
without ."gvins to Mexico ono moro opportunity 10
atone for the ST. before take redress into
hands" Accordingly he recommended that an act
be passed authorizing reprisals and the of the
val force OF this United States by the executive against
Mexico to enforce them, in the Of q refusal by
the Mexican government to come TO an amicable ed.
ofthe matters in controversy between us ur
another demand thereof, made from on board one OF
our vessels Of war, on the coast OF Mexico"
cign Relations which, on the 10Th OF February 1891
made report to the Senate entirely in with
the message Of the President regard to the outrsges
and wrongs committed by Mexico oitizsns Of the
United States. They recommended however, that
another demand should be made for redress upon tn
Mexican government In pursuance OF the form required
by the saith article Of treaty with Mexico the
result submitted to Congress for their decision before
actual hOstlites should be authorized The commit
say after such demand should prompt justc. be
refused by the Mexican government may appeal to
all nations not emily for the equity and moderation with
which have acted towards sister republic but for
the necessity which win then compel to seek redress
for our wrongs by actual war or by reprsss The sub
ect will then be presented before Congress at the
mencement Of the next session, in clear and distinct
FORM and the committee cannot doubt but that euch
measures will be Immediately adopted may be neces.
ssry to vindcate the honor OF the country and insure
ample reparstion to our iojured feliew citizens"
The resolution with which the report concludes, was
on the 27h Of February adopted by the unanimous
Affairs made to the House of Representatives the
oath of February 1887 breathes the spirit with
that of the Senate
In pursuance of the suggestion of the Committee on
Foreign Relations of the Senate special
sent to Mexico to make final demand for redres with
the documents required by the 3lth article of the treaty
This demand was inside on the Goth July 1887 The an
swer to contained fair promises How these evadsd
from time to time, you will learn by examination of
the archives of your legation.
Finally on the 18th April, 1889, convention was DON
cluded for the adjustment Of the claims Of the citizens
Of the United States Of America upon tho government Of
the Mexican Repubcn
The Board Of Commissioners was not organised under
this convention until the 26th August 1910; and under
its terms they obliged to terminate their duties
within eighteen months from that date Four Of these
eighteen months spent ia preliminary discussions
which had arisen objections, raised by tbs Mexican
commissioners and At time, there great danger
that the board would separate without hearing decd
ing single case 1t was not until the oath December,
s40 that they commenced the of the claims
Of our ctzeps Fourteen months only left to
mine and decide upon these numerous and complicated
cases.
The claims allowed by the commissioners,
without reference to the umpire amount
ed principal and interest, to. ...... $439 800 81
The amount, principal and interest subse-
quently awarded by the umpire, 15s6,745 Sc
So 026,l 39 6s
The Mexican government andiog It inconvenisrt to
pay the amount awarded either In money in istue
treasury notes. according to the terms CT the conven
ton, new convention was conluded between the two
governments the 30th January Si3 to relieve that
OF Mexico from this embarrassment. Under its terms
the interest on tbs whole amount awarded was to be
paid on the 30th Of April 1913 and the principal with
the aceruDg interest made payable in FIVE years
In equal ipstalments Of three months.
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