J. M. Lafragua to To His Excellency John W. Foster , Envoy Extraordinary and, April 17, 1875

Mr. Lafragua to Mr. Foster.

Sir: In your note of the 14th of this month your excellency is pleased to call my attention to the recent outrages committed on the bank of the Rio Grande by bands organized and proceeding from Mexican territory, inclosing therewith documents relating to the robbery and burning of the post-office in Nueces, Texas, and the telegram addressed by the governor of the State of Texas to President Grant, asking him to extend protection to people of that region; and expressing the hope that on the part of the government of Mexico the most energetic and efficient measures may be taken for co-operating with that of the United States in restoring tranquillity to that frontier, where the people are greatly alarmed, and the excitement which there exists being liable to lead to retaliations which will augment the disquiet and insecurity that reign upon that frontier.

In reply I have the honor to state to your excellency that, after the government received notice of the unfortunate events to which your excellency, refers, it addressed a special recommendation to the government of the States of Nuevo Leon, Coahuila, and Tamaulipas, urging that they should order whatever measures they might judge proper for guarding in the most efficacious manner the frontier, and for discovering and arresting the authors of those outrages, if they should seek to take refuge in Mexican territory, striving with all diligence to avoid the repetition of similar deeds.

The department of war, to which was also addressed a similar “excitative,” to the end that, on its part, it should adopt the necessary measures, has issued its orders to the same effect, increasing at once the armed force on that line; and, as a result of these various measures, said department has received the communication a copy of which I have the honor to inclose herewith to your excellency, it being proper to add that the individuals who in it are said to have been apprehended are held as prisoners at the disposition of the federal government, it having been ordered that they be tried conformably to law, and that the punishment be applied to them which they deserve.

In the future the same strict vigilance will continue to be exercised by every class of authorities, to the end that tranquillity may be restored on that frontier and a repetition of these scandalous deeds be prevented.

I can assure your excellency that my government is using all the means within its reach to secure the pacification and tranquillity of the Rio Bravo frontier, and to prevent, so far as it may be possible, the repetition of similar outrages.

Besides, fresh reports have been requested of the corresponding authorities which I shall be careful to communicate to your excellency as soon as they are received, and meanwhile it is pleasant to renew the assurances of the sincere regard and very distinguished consideration with which I have the honor of being your excellency’s attentive servant.