The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 28, July 1924 - April, 1925 Page: 45

Recognition of Diaz Government by United States

Mexico, not a single man, so far as is known to this government,
has been punished.83
In view of the above situation Secretary Seward stated that
it was natural that Mexican statesmen should argue that the
restoration of official relations between the two governments
would open the way for "some arrangement for concerted action
between the military commanders of the two countries on the
frontier for the preservation of peace and order and the protec-
tion of life and property." On the other hand, Seward stated
that it was also natural "that the Government of the United
States should be disposed to believe that some guarantee of such
an arrangement should be made the condition precedent to any
recognition, rather than to trust to the possibility that it may
ultimately follow."34
After the above declaration of policy which made the co-oper-
ation of Mexico in the effective suppression of border disturb-
ances a prerequisite to the recognition of the Diaz government
by that of the United States, Mexico's reaction toward this pol-
icy and rapidly moving events along the international border very
nearly precipitated war between the two countries. As a result,
recognition was still further removed from reality.
On May 28 the State Department sent instructions to Mr.
Foster to warn the Mexican government that in case it continued
to be negligent of what appeared to be its clear duty to aid the
United States authorities in restraining bandits from Mexico
from making depredations"5 across the border "the United States
"8Seward to Foster, Washington, May 16, 1877, in House Ex. Does., 45
Cong., 2 sess., 1877-1878, I, Foreign Relations (serial no. 1793), doc. 1,
pt. 1, pp. 404-405.
4"Ibid.
mOn April 24 Colonel Shafter at Ft. Clark, Texas, reported another
Indian and Mexican raid into Texas, and the carrying off by the raiders
of two hundred head of horses.-Shafter to Taylor [telegram], Ft. Clark,
Texas, April 24, 1877, in House Reports, 45 Cong., 1 and 2 sess., 1877-
1878, III (serial no. 1824), doc. 701, p. 240. Also in House Ex. Does.,
45 Cong., 1 sess., I (serial no. 1773), doc. 13, p. 13. In connection with
this affair, Lieutenant-General P. H. Sheridan, commanding the military
division of the Missouri, recommended to the Adjutant-General of the
army on May 5 that "the proper authorities take some steps to require
the Mexican Government to aid in the protection of that frontier."--
Sheridan to the Adjutant-General, Chicago, May 5, 1877, in House Re-
ports, 45 Cong., 1 and 2 sess., 1877-1878, III (serial no. 1824), doc. 701,
p. 240. Also in House Ex. Does., 45 Cong., I sess., I (serial no. 1773),
doec. 13, p. 13.