812.001C13/41
The Consul at Nuevo Laredo (Boyce) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 27.]
Sir: I have the honor to report as follows the arrival of General Plutarco Elias Calles, ex-President of Mexico at Laredo, Texas, July 22, 1929.
On July 19, 1929, I received from Ambassador Dwight W. Morrow at Mexico City a code telegram advising me of the arrival of General Calles at Laredo on July 22, 1929, and stating that General Calles wished no demonstration.
On the same evening the Laredo Times published a story, a copy of which is enclosed,35 with large headlines, “Calles Visit Might Be Stormy” followed by an interview with County Judge John A. Valls, formerly Prosecuting Attorney of Webb County, who stated that if he were Prosecuting Attorney he would arrest General Calles, refuse bond, and send him to the penitentiary. The article then quoted Mr. Valls statement of last August that “The prosecution against Calles and his fellow conspirators will remain pending with the fervid hope that some day they will be called upon to answer for their enormous crimes at the bar of public justice in Webb County”.
The following morning July 20, I called on Mr. R. L. Bobbitt, ex-speaker of the Texas House of Representatives and now Prosecuting Attorney for Webb County. He was very much upset over Mr. Valls statement and the newspaper publicity given to it. He had already made an appointment with the Mexican Consul in Laredo, Texas, to assure him there would be no difficulties in General Calles passing thru Laredo. At that time none of the American officials in Laredo knew if General Calles would come this way.
[Page 510]I did not tell Mr. Bobbitt that General Calles was coming thru Laredo but I told him that I was very anxious to know what his attitude was in case General Calles did come and that if any disturbance was expected I would report it at once to the American Embassy at Mexico. I then explained to him that if necessary General Calles could easily be clothed with diplomatic immunity and that no local official would have any authority to approach him. Mr. Bobbitt apparently was not familiar with that feature of the case but he said the citizens of Laredo would certainly not want to stir up trouble but would on the contrary do everything possible to assure General Calles of a cordial welcome. Having satisfied myself that there would be no difficulties of any kind I did not report the incident.
The Laredo Times printed Sunday morning under large headlines “Calles Expected Here” that Prosecuting Attorney Bobbitt stated “A careful examination of the files and records in my office fails to show that there are now pending or that there had ever been filed, any charges of any character against the former President Plutarco Elias Calles of Mexico in Webb County”.
On the afternoon of July 20 I called on the Mexican Consul and we agreed that the news of General Calles’ arrival should be kept secret.
On Sunday, July 21, Mr. H. Brennan, Chairman of the Reception Committee of the Laredo Chamber of Commerce called up to say that General Calles would arrive the morning of July 22 and to invite me to be on the committee of welcome. I found that the Mexican Consul had told Mr. Brennan that General Calles was coming. I explained to Mr. Brennan that I had received a wire from Ambassador Morrow informing me of General Calles’ arrival and that he desired no demonstration. Mr. Brennan stated that they were not planning anything but a small committee of welcome, with possibly an invitation to breakfast at Fort Mcintosh, but that if General Calles did not feel able to leave his car they would be satisfied with presenting their respects and welcoming him to Laredo. They were especially anxious to dispel the bad feeling and misunderstanding aroused by Mr. Valls.
When General Calles arrived at the American end of the railroad bridge at 8:30 A.M. the committee of welcome were introduced.
Capt. Wood, Commandant of Fort Mcintosh, had arranged a mounted guard of honor at the railway station. General Calles, who apparently was feeling much better than the day before, seemed to be very pleased with the welcome he received. He inspected the guard of honor at the station while a salute was fired at Fort Mcintosh, and shook hands with many Mexicans who crowded around the rear of the train platform.
I wish to explain that since the news of General Calles arrival became public it was impossible to prevent some kind of a reception on [Page 511] the part of Laredo officials. Except for the guard of honor it could not have been more simple.
I believe in view of the unfortunate statements of Mr. Valls that the reception by the city officials was very proper. I feel sure General Calles and his party were relieved to find a cordial welcome awaiting them.
I have [etc.]
- Not printed.↩