seems particularly appropriate. In Latin American hearts Washington is classed with Bolívar and Hidalgo, two of their own greatest heroes. He is dear to citizens of all countries under an elective form of government. He belongs to them all, and no doubt his career was an inspiration to all leaders in the establishment of American republics." ADDRESS OF AMBASSADOR HENRY LANE WILSON. "One hundred and eighty years after the birth of George Washington in Westmoreland County, Virginia, the American colony in this Republic offers his plastic portrait carved in Mexican stone and American bronze to the Mexican people as a testimonial of their respect and fraternal affection. On the day when this great patriot first opened his eyes on the world the vast empire now known as the United States of America was a part of the monarchy of Great Britain, and Mexico with its great mineral and agricultural wealth, was still sleeping in the traditions of the Middle Ages under the monarchy of Spain. To-day both are powerful Republics cherishing the memory of the lands from whose loins they sprang, but united in maintaining upon this hemisphere the theory and practice of constitutional democracy. "These two Republics have been at peace for more than half a century and during all that time the currents of a constantly increasing volume of commerce, immigration, and vast mutual interests have been bringing them more and more into intimate and cordial association. Nor can the eye of the prophet or the vision of the seer see aught in the horizon of the future portending the lessening of those cordial relations which the dictates of sound statesmanship, as well as the imperative considerations of mutual interest teach us are vitally essential to the peaceful progress and development of both countries. "There is the difference of race; but while race pride and traditions are ennobling and useful, racial unity beyond national frontiers politically counts for little in an intensely utilitarian age, when political alliances and friendships spring from considerations of practical self-interest and the necessities of the hour rather than from the dreams of the past. 66 No race is so great or perfect that it may not learn much to its advantage from other races and no race is so enthroned in its own virtues that it may not borrow something of the divine spark from races whose traditions, history and ideals are far asunder. The Mexican and American nations are Christian and republican nations, and while possibly pursuing different roads, are both animated by the same idea of elevating man and the happiness of the people. They should, therefore, be friends, as they are neighbors, putting aside the appeal of the demagogue and the singer of evil songs, and lend themselves unitedly to the peaceful development of this hemisphere. "No fitter representative of this idea has ever lived than the great American patriot, George Washington. A warrior, he loved peace; an aristocrat, he loved the people; nourished in the lap of luxury, he devoted his life and fortune to the cause of the oppressed and poor; self-centered in his Americanism, the great central idea of his policy as enunciated by Alexander Hamilton was the maintenance and extension of the democratic idea throughout this hemisphere. "The United States has produced many great men whose names have been written large upon the scrolls of history, but none greater than Washington, none in whom the fires of patriotism burned purer or higher, none who has left a memory more enshrouded in love and admiration among his fellow countrymen, the Latin-Americans of this hemisphere and the people of the world. Therefore, no worthier subject could so eloquently express the purpose of the American colony in Mexico, in presenting this statue of the great commoner who was first in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen, to the Mexican people. Mr. President: In the name of the American colony in this Republic and as an offering of peace, good will, and friendship, I present this statue of George Washington, through Your Excellency, to the Mexican people." ADDRESS OF PRESIDENT MADERO. "Great men should have statues erected to their memory in every land, for these statues serve to recall vividly the virtues of the heroes of nations, and at the same time are a means of paying homage to the services rendered to humanity by the great men of the ages, whose work should never be restricted to the confines of one nation, but should be extended throughout the world to benefit all nations and peoples. "For this reason men who have distinguished themselves in the fields of science, art, or politics should be considered as citizens of the world. All the world has been benefited by the discoveries of Volta, Edison, Marconi, Fulton and Watts, who gave the world the wonders of steam and electricity. "So such men as George Washington, who brought freedom to their nations, are known throughout the entire world. The labor of Washington was one of the factors which caused France to seek and claim her freedom, radiating afterwards to all the world, illuminating the minds of our own Hidalgo, Allende, Morelos and other patriots. "For this reason the American colony resident in Mexico could not, on the occasion of the centennial of our independence, have chosen a gift which would be more highly esteemed, for the noble figure of Washington is loved by all who love liberty and admired by all who regard the grand and the beautiful. "This admiration for just and great men which is common to both our nations is the best testimony to the similarity of ideas which inspire us, and, for this reason, of the union which should continually strengthen and guide our relations. In the commercial world the interchange of products is beneficial to both nations (for which reason it increases) and the similarity of ideals will lead us toward the same end, that of attaining greatness through liberty and justice. "The Mexican people appreciate to the higest degree this gift which the American colony on the occasion of the first centennial of Mexican independenco has made to Mexico, this beautiful statue which represents in bronze the one who in his own Nation came to be 'first in war; first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen '-enviable praise which has rarely been accorded even to great men." TAXATION OF FOREIGNERS BY INSURRECTIONARY FORCES EXERCISING DE FACTO AUTHORITY. File No. 812.00/3353. The American Consul at Chihuahua to the Secretary of State. [Telegram.-Paraphrase.] AMERICAN CONSULATE, Chihuahua (via El Paso, Tex.), March 23, 1912-1 p. m. The provisional government demands the mine taxes due to the Federal Government at the close of this month. Penalty according to law for nonpayment 50 per cent increase first month, 100 second, relinquishment title third. While larger mines can stand double payment in case of failure of rebel movement, it will be burdensome for many small owners. I respectfully ask advice. File No. 812.00/3353. LETCHER. The Acting Secretary of State to the American Consul at Chihuahua. [Telegram.-Paraphrase.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, March 27, 1912—4 p. m. Department assumes from your telegram of March 23, 1 p. m., that Americans are already paying taxes to insurrectionary authorities. You are instructed that such taxes should be paid under protest. The protest should be made a matter of record in each case as far as possible. Properly authenticated receipts should be secured for all taxes paid. Americans are entitled, however, to pay taxes to persons in de facto authority. See Moore's Digest, volume 1, pages 183-184; volume 4, page 12, for the principle involved. Ambassador at Mexico City is being instructed to lay the matter before Mexican Government, calling attention to the exaction of taxes by insurrectionary forces, and stating that this Government will regard payment of such taxes to such persons exercising de facto authority as completely relieving American citizens from further obligation with reference to taxes paid in that way. HUNTINGTON WILSON. File No. 812.00/3353. The Acting Secretary of State to the American Ambassador. [Telegram.-Paraphrase.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, March 27, 1912—5 p. m. Department is advising Consulate at Chihuahua as follows regarding insurrectionary forces collecting mine taxes due Federal Government: [Above telegram to American Consul.] You will bring this immediately to the attention of the Mexican Foreign Office. HUNTINGTON WILSON. File No. 312.115Am3/26. The American Ambassador to the Secretary of State. [Telegram.-Paraphrase.] AMERICAN EMBASSY, Mexico, April 13, 1912-11 a. m. Orozco has demanded of the El Paso representative of the American Smelters Securities Co. [?] that they remake all checks to the National lines for month of March, amounting to 26,000 pesos, to order of revolutionary government and that all future payments for freight be made to same order. As this company's interests are very large the precedent to be established is very important. I am having the El Paso representative above mentioned telegraphed to refuse immediate payment and to inform Orozco that he will be held personally responsible by this Embassy for any damage done to American lives and property. I request instructions. WILSON. File No. 312.115Am3/29. The Assistant Secretary of State to the American Ambassador. No. 798.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, SIR: I enclose a copy of a letter from the American Smelting and Refining Company of New York City, in which they state that they 1 Not printed. are in receipt of a telegram from their manager in Chihuahua saying that General Orozco has demanded payment to be made to him for freights due by the company to the National Railway lines for the month of March, and that hereafter such payments for freight should be made to him. They point out that they will doubtless have demands made upon them by the railroad for repayment of the freight if paid to General Orozco; also that the same situation would doubtless apply to the export tax on shipments from Chihuahua. Some time ago the American Consul at Chihuahua was advised as follows: [Telegram of March 27, 4 p. m.] It is believed that this instruction to the Consul states the general principles which control in the matter of the payment of taxes, customs duties, etc., to insurrectionary or revolutionary officers, and it would apply to the case suggested by the American Smelting and Refining Company. You will lay the matter before the Mexican Government and state that the Government of the United States will regard such payments made for freight and export taxes to the persons exercising de facto authority as completely relieving the Smelting Company of further obligation in regard to such payments. I am [etc.] File No. 312.11/285. HUNTINGTON WILSON. The American Consul at Chihuahua to the Secretary of State. [Telegram.-Paraphrase.] AMERICAN CONSULATE, Chihuahua, April 24, 1912-5 p. m. (Received, via El Paso, Tex., April 25, 1912—5.30 p. m.) W. H. Kraft, a citizen of the United States, has been required by the rebel military authorities to pay to them $100,000 and 1,000,000 cartridges. By right of his wife this American owns an undivided one-sixth interest in one of the largest properties in the State of Chihuahua. An uncle of the President of Mexico residing here is also holder of a sixth interest. These facts account for the rebel hostility. Last week this estate, consisting of nearly 1,000,000 acres, was absolutely stripped and laid waste by rebel authorities. Request instructions as to what representations should be made in protection of American-owned share of property. The authorities threaten to confiscate all of Kraft's property in Chihuahua if he fails to comply with their demand. File No. 312.11/285. LETCHER. The Secretary of State to the American Consul at Chihuahua. [Telegram.-Paraphrase.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, April 27, 1912--6 p. m. Bearing in mind Department's March 27, 4 p. m., regarding payment of taxes, you will informally protest to appropriate persons exercising de facto authority in your district Your April 24, 5 p. m. against all arbitrary, illegal or confiscatory exactions made by such persons upon American citizens or their property. In matter of "forced loans" you will distinguish between levy in the form of war taxes equally applied according to a fixed percentage amongst all the inhabitants of the country, whether natives or foreigners, and exactions levied arbitrarily upon a part only of the community. See volume 6, Moore's Digest, page 915. Referring again to Department's March 27, 4 p. m., protests should be entered against payment of all taxes to insurrectionary authorities; you will also enter special and emphatic protests informally and unofficially against arbitrary and discriminatory exactions, "forced loans." Protests should be recorded if possible. KNOX. File No. 812.512/5. The American Ambassador to the Secretary of State. [Telegram.-Paraphrase.] AMERICAN EMBASSY, Mexico, August 21, 1912-noon. Department's March 27, 5 p. m. Protests are being made here by representatives of American taxpayers in the State of Chihuahua against the collection attempted there by local authorities of certain mining taxes already paid by them to the revolutionary government of Orozco, which was the de facto government at the time of payment. I am to-day instructing American Consul at Chihuahua to advise Americans in his district to decline to pay taxes a second time. WILSON. File No. 812.512/6. The American Consul at Chihuahua to the Secretary of State. [Telegram.-Paraphrase.] AMERICAN CONSULATE, Chihuahua, August 24, 1912-3 p. m. The Ambassador advised me by telegraph yesterday that Mexican Government will not attempt second collection of taxes paid rebel authorities, and he has instructed advising Americans to this effect. LETCHER. DISCRIMINATION AGAINST AMERICAN CITIZENS EMPLOYED ON MEXICAN RAILROADS. File No. 812.77/102. The American Chargé d'Affaires to the Secretary of State. No. 796.] [Extract.] AMERICAN EMBASSY, SIR: I have the honor to report to the Department that representatives of the Order of Railway Conductors and of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, of the National Railways of Mexico, called |