Foster to J. M. Lafragua, May 15, 1875

No. 435. Mr. Foster to Mr. Fish.

Sir: In accordance with the instructions contained in your dispatches numbered 212, of the 12th ultimo, and 213 of the 13th ultimo, I, on the 8th instant, transmitted to Mr. Lafragua, minister of foreign affairs, copies of the inclosures accompanying said dispatches, and conveyed to him substantially the views expressed by you in regard to the troubles attendant upon the attempts made by the commissioners of the United States to secure the removal of the Kickapoos and other Indians to their reservation in the United States, and in regard to the desirability for both governments of such removal. I further alluded to the frequent presentation of this question by this legation to the Mexican government, and in view of the recent partial failure of the commissioners to accomplish the removal of these Indians from Mexican territory, I expressed to Mr. Lafragua the decided conviction that his government should give the subject a new consideration, with a view to the adoption of such effective measures as will entirely remove the opposition of the local authorities and residents, and make the work of the commissioners easy and their efforts completely successful. I also directed his attention to the fact that the presence of these Indians in Mexico is one of the remaining evil results of the late civil wars in the two countries; in support of which I cited the report of the Mexican border commission, (see English translation, pages 411 and 412,) and expressed the belief that this fact would furnish to him an additional reason why Mexico should manifest its good fellowship toward the United States in this matter. I also called attention to the statement of this same Mexican border commission, that these Indians did not come into Mexico with the consent of the Mexican federal government, but only with that of the local authorities; that such proceedings are recognized by the commission to be contrary to public policy, and this class of immigrants to be undesirable for the Mexican frontier, (see English translation, pages 417 and 421;) for which reasons I was persuaded Mr. Lafragua’s government would rind no impropriety in requiring the local authorities and citizens to abstain from, every species of opposition, and in adopting such measures as would effectually secure the return of all those Indians to their reservations in the United States.

To this note, up to date, I have received no reply.

In my dispatch No. 279, of the 4th instant, I referred to an interview which I had with Mr. Lafragua on the subject of the Texas border troubles, at which the Indian troubles were alluded to, and Mr. Lafragua promised to bring the whole matter to the special attention of the President of the Republic, with a full statement of my representations upon the question. In a recent subsequent interview with Mr. Lafragua on other matters, he incidentally informed me that the report of the Sonora and Chihuahua investigation commission was momentarily expected by him, and that he would have the pleasure of sending me a copy as soon as it was received and could be prepared. Our Government may expect to be confronted with along list of murders, injuries, and damages occasioned by the Indians of Arizona, (the Apaches,) especially in the State of Sonora, where their raids continue to be reported by the newspapers.

I am, &c.,