[Inclosure in No. 231.]
Mr. Browning to
Mr. Bliss.
Department of the Interior,
Office of Indian
Affairs,
Washington, March 10,
1897.
Sir: I am in receipt, by your reference for
early report, of a communication from the Secretary of State, dated
March 5, inclosing a note of March 1 from. Mr. Romero, the Mexican
minister at this capital, informing him that a number of Yuma
Indians, belonging to the Yuma Reservation in California, have
crossed into Mexican territory and established themselves on the
ranch called “Algodones,” situated in the territory of Lower
California, and owned by Señor Don Guillermo Andrade, without the
consent of the latter; that Mr. W. C. Hefferman, a superintendent in
the Indian-school service, informed Señor Andrade that the said Yuma
Indians had quitted the United States because they did not wish to
send their children to school, but that in allotting the lands of
the Yuma Reservation the Indians now on the Algodones ranch made
application for their share, which indicates a purpose to retain
their status in the United States; that Señor Andrade applied to the
Government of Mexico to have the said Indians expelled from his land
by force, but before giving orders to that end the Government
desires to know whether the United States Government can compel them
to return to the Yuma Reservation. Mr. Romero incloses a list of the
names of these Indians—39 in number.
I have the honor to report that heretofore it has been found
impracticable, if not impossible, to return Indians to and confine
them upon a reservation against their will, without keeping them in
actual confinement under guard, and for this there is no authority
of law. Local authorities in this country have reported unlawful
settlements by Indians and they have been uniformly advised of the
difficulty of keeping Indians on a reservation, and that as they
were amenable to the local police laws, they should be punished for
any violations thereof.
In appreciation, however, of the courteous action of the Mexican
Government in calling our attention to this trespass, I have, by
letter of this date, instructed the United States Indian Agent,
Mission Agency, California, within whose jurisdiction the Yuma
Indians of California are located, to proceed at once to Mr.
Andrade’s premises, in Mexico, and use every legitimate means in his
power to induce the trespassers to return to their reservation, or,
failing in that, to at least effect their removal from the Territory
or Lower California. Should he also fail in this effort this office
will, upon receipt of his report to that effect, submit such
suggestions for the consideration of the Mexican Government as the
facts found may appear to warrant.
Very respectfully, etc.,
D. M. Browning, Commissioner
.
