The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 74, July 1970 - April, 1971 Page: 17
616 p. : ill., maps, ports. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Tempest in a Teapot?
By the end of November Mexico sensed that United States attitudes
toward the Jenkins case were hardening and prepared for the possi-
bility of military intervention from the north. Dynamite and demoli-
tion detachments moved to key border areas. Military intelligence
reports noted that "at the first indication of hostilities . . . all of the
large steel bridges between Nuevo Laredo and Monterrey on the Mex-
ican National [Railroad] are to be mined. .. ." Rumors also abounded
that a troop increase in Nuevo Laredo was imminent and that, in the
event of a northern invasion, would move along the border to protect
Mexico's northern frontier."
Ambassador Bonillas, meanwhile, was summoned by Lansing who
attempted to clarify the United States position. The latter left no
doubt as to the firmness of his own view. He told Bonillas that despite
efforts by the United States to demonstrate friendliness toward Mex-
ico, its citizens continued "to suffer indignity after indignity at the
hands of the Mexican Government and people. . . ." In addition,
United States patience approached a breaking point. A continuing
rise in United States indignation, Bonillas was informed, might result
in a break in relations and almost inevitable military conflict. To lend
even greater impact to his argument, Lansing pointed out that the
United States would prosecute a war with Mexico in the same spirit
that it pursued a successful military action against Germany. Lansing
said:
I have sought to avoid coming to an open rupture in every way possible,
hoping against hope that sense and decency would finally penetrate the
thick skull of President Carranza. It is apparently useless. He seems as
obstinate, as impervious to reason, and as hostile to Americans as he
has ever been.
Bonillas was outraged when he left, and Lansing noted that despite
his candor, he hoped only to prevent war."
His outrage notwithstanding, Bonillas went to see Fletcher on De-
cember i. He asked: "What is going to come of this tempest in a
teapot about Jenkins?" Fletcher found him mild and conciliatory, and
reported that Bonillas had informed the Secretaria de Relaciones Ex-
:"Weekly Report No. 346, November 29, 1919, File 319.1 (RG 94, NA).
40"Memoirs," November 28, 1919, and Memorandum Volume, November 28, 1919,
Robert Lansing Papers (Manuscripts Division, Library of Congress); Confidential Mem-
orandum from Lansing to State Department, November 28, 1919, File 312.11/884o 1/2
(RG 59, NA). It is interesting to compare the tone of Lansing's State Department memo
to the bellicose language used in the interview with Bonillas.
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 74, July 1970 - April, 1971, periodical, 1971; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101200/m1/29/: accessed March 29, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.