File No. 812.00/615.
The American Consul at Guadalajara to the Secretary of State.
Sir: I have the honor to inform you that upon review of the anti-American demonstrations of November 10–11, 1910, reported in my dispatch 218 of November 15, 1910,1 and studying the results therefrom, I find as follows:
These demonstrations were made easy at first because the minds of the people had been prepared for a revolt by antireelection emissaries; and, second, because of deep-seated jealousy or hatred of all things and persons American by the half-educated and ignorant portion of the Mexican population of this district. The lynching of an alleged Mexican was only incidental, and a large proportion of the populace engaged in the riots knew little and cared less about it. * * *
When the intent to demonstrate against the Americans became known on the 10th of November, the governor being absent, the authorities presumed it would amount only to smashing a few windows, and the police acted as if they were instructed to permit that much and to intervene only to prevent bodily harm. * * * Gen. Villaseñor gave prompt protection to the consulate at all times and to the American residence section on the night of the 11th, but even he did not deem the demonstration of the night of the 10th as being serious, in view of his experience with mobs here in former times. * * *
It is said that an American flag was burned by the mob. It is known that two small American flags were purchased on November 10, and a young man, González Olivares, was heard to coast afterwards that he had burned an American flag. * * * Upon advice from the embassy the matter was dropped.
Some Americans claim to have been insulted on the streets during those days; none has cared to make specific charges, doubtless deeming them too trivial to justify formal complaint.
The musicians of the city during the excitement signed an agreement not to play any American music. A circular was distributed about the same time and numerously signed boycotting all American goods.
[Page 380]There are about 65 to 75 residences in this city occupied by Americans, of which 11 had some windows broken. Of 32 places of business, hotels, churches, etc., 9 had windows broken. * * *
One great cause of annoyance to this consulate and to the better class of Americans in this city were the actions of misguided Americans who bragged of how many Mexicans they would kill, and who openly demanded some counterdemonstration. * * *
The foregoing are a few of the signs which bring to the surface an undoubted and deep-seated antipathy, to American manufacturers and products. A recent canvass of American stores, however, shows an increase in business for November over that done during November of 1909 in all stores but two, and those cases may possibly be due to other causes. * * *
I have, etc.,
- Not printed.↩