been enjoying with impunity the liberty of the towns of northern Mexico.
"So far has the indifference of the de facto government to these atrocities gone that some of these leaders, as I am advised, have received not only the protection of that government, but encouragement and aid as well. Depredations upon American persons and property within Mexican jurisdiction have been still more numerous.
"This Government has repeatedly requested, in the strongest terms, that the de facto government safeguard the lives and homes of American citizens and furnish the protection, which international obligations impose, to American interests in the northern states of Tamaulipas, Nuevo Leon, Coahuila, Chihuahua, and Sonora, and also in the states to the south.
"For example, on January 3d, troops were requested to punish the band of outlaws which looted the Cusi mining property, eighty miles west of Chihuahua, but no effective results came of this request.
"During the following week the bandit, Villa, with his band of about 200 men, was operating without opposition between Rubio and Santa Ysabel, a fact well known to Carrancista authorities. Meanwhile a party of unfortunate Americans started by train from Chihuahua to visit the Cusi mines, after having received assurances from the Carrancista authorities in the state of Chihuahua that the country was safe and that a guard on the train was not necessary. The Americans held passports of safe conduct issued by the authorities of the de facto government. On January 10th, the train was