File No. 812.00/21981
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Mexico ( Fletcher)
Sir: Referring to the Department’s telegram of May 14, 1918,2 stating that the Secretary of War has issued instructions to the effect that—
No American troops shall fire upon any person on the Mexican side of the international boundary, unless such troops shall first have been fired upon from the Mexican side and a return of fire is made necessary as a measure of self-defense,
the Department encloses herewith, for your confidential information, a copy of Secretary Baker’s letter dated May 11, 1918.1 Mr. Baker transmits with his letter a copy of a telegram dated April 27, 1918, from General Ruckman, from which it appears that Mexican troops in the Big Bend district are not acting in conformity with the instructions reported in your telegram of April 14 having been issued to the Mexican troops stationed on the frontier.
You will therefore bring the substance of General Ruckman’s telegram to the attention of the Mexican Government and request it to direct the Mexican military authorities along the border to make every possible effort to prevent firing across the international boundary by Mexican soldiers. It is also suggested that you ask the Mexican Government to take vigorous steps to put a stop to raids upon American soil, pointing out to that Government that, according to General Ruckman’s information, among those taking part in these raids appear to be regular Mexican soldiers.
I am [etc.]