Foster to J. M. Lafragua, November 30, 1874

No. 404. Mr. Foster to Mr. Fish.

Sir: On the 24th instant I received a telegram from Mr. J. Ulrich, consul at Monterey, advising me of the arrival at that place of Mr. H. M. Atkinson, the commissioner appointed by the Department of the Interior to secure the removal of the Kickapoo Indians still remaining in Mexico to their reservations, and asking me to procure the appointment of commissioners on the part of the Mexican government, and to request the co-operation of the governor of the State of Coahuila.

Although I was not advised of the coming of Mr. Atkinson, and had no instructions on the subject, I on the next day called upon Mr. Lafragua, minister of foreign affairs, and asked the co operation of his government in accomplishing the object of Mr. Atkinson’s mission, leaving with him a note, of which I inclose a copy.

Mr. Lafragua stated that the present mission of Mr. Atkinson had not heretofore been brought to his attention, but he promised that the subject should be laid before the President immediately.

This morning, in a call which I made at the foreign office, I was informed by the chief clerk, in the absence of Mr. Lafragua, that the same instructions would be telegraphed to-day to the governor of Coahuila as those under which he acted last year; that Señor Montero, who formerly acted as Mexican commissioner, would leave this city within a few days with full instructions upon the subject, and would probably be again appointed by the governor of Coahuila; and that the war department had given instructions to the military commandant on the Rio Grande frontier. A copy of instructions of the war department was subsequently sent me in a note from Mr. Lafragua, which I inclose, and from which it will be seen that action is limited to such of the Kickapoos as have not entered the State of Durango and are still on the frontier.

I am not advised whether this limitation will materially interfere with the object of Mr. Atkinson’s mission.

I have advised the consul at Monterey by telegraph and mail of the action of the Mexican government.

I am, &c.,