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[Sub-inclosure.]

Mr. Boynton to Mr. Wickersham.

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.

OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES ATTORNEY,
WESTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS.

The ATTORNEY GENERAL,

SIR:

WACO, TEXAS, April 27, 1909.

Washington, D. C.

Responding to your telegram of the 14th, and letter of 15th, initials "S. G. 103530," relating to ejectment proceedings in cause No. 750, styled George Look v. Francisca de Valenzuela, before Justice of the Peace Watson of District No. 1, at El Paso, wherein said defendant was ejected from premises situated in Block 26 of Campbell's Addition on the El Chamizal tract in El Paso, I beg to state that said telegram was duly received by me at El Paso, and investigations were at once commenced to ascertain the facts in this case. It was found that the proceeding in question was in the nature of an action brought under the Statute entitled "Forcible Entry and Detainer" of this State, by a landlord to dispossess the tenant, and the only question at issue in such case is the question of possession, and in no manner affects the title to the land. Before the receipt of said telegram the defendant had been ejected from the premises in question, and the Court was unwilling to entertain an injunction or any proceeding that would disturb the present occupants of the premises, holding that he had no jurisdiction over same. In one or two instances such ejectments, in the nature of Forcible Entry and Detainer proceedings in the Justice Court, have taken place, but nothing that would affect the title to the land, and all of the Courts in El Paso recognize that the title to said land is still a subject of dispute between the United States and Mexico, and is sub judice before the International Boundary Commission.

Where we are notified beforehand of any contemplated proceeding relating to said El Chamizal tract, we have always been able to induce the various Courts to let matters remain in statu quo awaiting determination of the questions at issue, as to title, before the proper international tribunal. These suits in the Justice Court are merely matters between landlord and tenant as to the right of possession.

Very respectfully,

CHARLES A. BOYNTON,
United States Attorney.

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Con referencia á la nota de ese Departamento, número 38, de 6 de Mayo último, relativa al caso de la reclamación de la Señora Valenzuela, mi Gobierno me encarga manifieste á Vuestra Excelencia, tal como tengo la honra de hacerlo, que muy en breve recibirá los documentos que justifican que el lote de que fué despojada la citada Señora Valenzuela, en El Chamizal, está amparado por un título mexicano, y que tan pronto como tenga en su poder esos documentos, se seguirá tratando dicha reclamación con el Gobierno de los Estados Unidos de América.

Lo que tengo la honra de poner en conocimiento de Vuestra Excelencia, renovándole á la vez las seguridades de mi más alta y distinguida consideración.

F. L. DE LA BARRA

Excelentísimo Señor PHILANDER C. KNOX,

Secretario de Estado de los Estados Unidos de América,

Washington, D. C.

[Translation.]

EMBASSY OF MEXICO

TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

No. 321.
Most Excellent Sir:

WASHINGTON, July 30, 1909.

With reference to your Department's note No. 38, of May 6, last, relative to the case of Mrs. Valenzuela's complaint, my Government instructs me to inform Your Excellency, and I have hereby the honor so to do, that it will very shortly receive the documents which show that the lot of which Mrs. Valenzuela was despoiled in El Chamizal is under the protection of a Mexican title and that, as soon as it has the said documents in its possession, it will continue with the Government of the United States the discussion of the said complaint.

I have the honor to bring the foregoing to Your Excellency's knowledge and to renew to you, at the same time, the assurances of my highest and most distinguished consideration.

His Excellency PHILANDER C. KNOX,

F. L. DE La Barra.

Secretary of State of the United States of America,

Washington, D. C.

No. 86.

Excellency:

Mr. Adee to Señor de la Barra.

DEPARTMENT OF STATE,

WASHINGTON, August 10, 1909.

I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note No. 321, of the 30th ultimo, informing the Department that your Government will very shortly receive the documents which show that the lot of which Mrs. Valenzuela was despoiled in El Chamizal is under the protection of a Mexican title, and that as soon as the said documents are in its possession, your Government will continue with the Government of the United States the discussion of Mrs. Valenzuela's complaint.

Accept, Excellency, the renewed assurance of my highest consideration.

His Excellency

ALVEY A. Adee, Acting Secretary of State.

Señor Don FRANCISCO L. DE LA BARRA,

Ambassador of Mexico.

CORRESPONDENCE RELATING TO THE PROPOSED LOCATION OF THE EL PASO GARBAGE AND SEWER DISPOSAL PLANTS ON THE CHAMIZAL TRACT.

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Un hecho reciente, que se reune á los ya numerosos que esta Embajada ha dado á conocer al Departamento de Estado, viene á agravar la situación delicada del asunto de "El Chamizal," en la línea limítrofe de ambos países.

Rompiendo el statu quo convenido, el Ayuntamiento de El Paso, Texas, ha decidido en la sesión de 24 de Junio, comprar una extensión de 13 acres al Sur de la adición Cotton, dentro del área del terreno mexicano de "El Chamizal," con el objeto de establecer un sistema de tratamiento para los desechos y las basuras de la ciudad. El terreno de que se trata está comprendido en los que son objeto de la reclamación de México contra la testamentaría Cotton.

Si se llevara adelante la disposición de dicho Ayuntamiento, aumentaria el malestar general y la inseguridad aparente de todos los propietarios mexicanos de "El Chamizal," cuyos derechos están bajo la protección de mi Gobierno.

Seguro estoy, Excelentísimo Señor, de que el Gobierno de los Estados Unidos interesado como el de México, en cumplir el acuerdo relativo al mantenimiento del statu quo, seservirá intervenir desde luego para que el Ayuntamiento de El Paso, cese en sus propósitos de adquirir el terreno á que me he referido.

Renuevo á usted, Excelentísimo Señor, las seguridades de mi más alta y distinguida consideración.

Excelentísimo Señor

PHILANDER C. KNOX,

No. 309.

F. L. DE La Barra

Secretario de Estado de los Estados Unidos de América,

Washington, D. C.

[Translation.]

EMBASSY OF MEXICO

TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

Most Excellent Sir:

WASHINGTON, July 15, 1909.

In addition to the numerous incidents already made known to the Department of State, a recent one has arisen to aggravate the delicate situation of the case of "El Chamizal" on the boundary line of the two countries.

The Municipal Government of El Paso, Texas, breaking the statu quo agreed upon, decided in its session of June 24, to purchase a 13 acre tract south of the Cotton addition, within the Mexican land of El Chamizal, for the purpose of establishing a system of treatment of the city's refuse and garbage. The land in question forms part of that which is the object of Mexico's claim against the Cotton estate.

Should the Municipal Government's resolution be carried out, the general uneasiness and apparent insecurity of all the Mexican

owners of "El Chamizal" whose rights are under my Government's protection, would be intensified.

I am sure, Most Excellent Sir, that the Government of the United States equally interested with that of Mexico in fulfilling the agreement relative to the maintenance of the statu quo, will be pleased to intervene at once to cause the Municipal Government of El Paso to desist from its purpose to purchase the land hereinabove referred to.

I renew to you, Most Excellent Sir, the assurances of my highest and most distinguished consideration.

F. L. DE LA BARRA.

Most Excellent Mr. PHILANDER C. KNOX,
Secretary of State of the United States of America,

Washington, D. C.

No. 77

Excellency:

Mr. Adee to Señor de la Barra.

DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
WASHINGTON, July 22, 1909.

I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note No. 309, of the 15th instant, in which you state that the municipal government of El Paso, Texas, decided at its session of June 24th to purchase a thirteen-acre tract south of the Cotton addition, within the so-called "Chamizal tract," now in dispute between the United States and Mexico, for the purpose of establishing a system of treatment of the city's refuse and garbage; and that, should the municipal government's resolution be carried out, the general uneasiness and apparent insecurity of all the Mexican owners of El Chamizal would be intensified.

You therefore request the Department to intervene at once to cause the municipal government of El Paso to desist from its purpose to purchase the land in question.

In reply, I have the honor to inform you that the Department has given your note appropriate direction.

Accept, Excellency, the renewed assurance of my highest consideration.

ALVEY A. Adee,

Acting Secretary.

His Excellency

Senor Don FRANCISCO LEON DE LA BARRA,

Ambassador of Mexico.

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