Evarts to Foster, June 21, 1877

No. 227. Mr. Evarts to Mr. Foster.

Sir: I transmit a copy of letters to this Department from the Secretary of War, of the 13th, 15th, and 16th instant, with their accompaniments. They relate to a conflict between troops in the service of Diaz and other forces, supposed to be in the interests of Lerdo, on the Rio Grande frontier. It seems that the Diaz troops, after defeating and routing their adversaries on Mexican soil, pursued them into Texas, where they again attacked and dispersed them. This was a violation of the territory of the United States which you will lose no time in remonstrating against.

While it is deemed hardly probable that this unjustifiable invasion of American soil was made in obedience to any specific orders from the Mexican capital, it is, nevertheless, a grave violation of international law, which cannot, for a moment, be overlooked. You are instructed to call the attention of the officers of the de facto government with whom you are holding unofficial intercourse to this case, and to say that the Government of the United States will confidently expect a prompt disavowal of the act, with reparation for its consequences, and the punishment of its perpetrators.

I am, &c.,