your Excellency that the Government of the United States is disposed to accept the proposal of the Mexican Government in the same spirit of cordiality in which it is made. This Government believes and suggests, however, that the powers of the proposed commission should be enlarged so that, if happily a solution satisfactory to both governments of the question set forth in your Excellency's communication may be reached, the commission may also consider such other matters, the friendly arrangement of which would tend to improve the relations of the two countries."
It was stated at the time in the press that the "other matters" which the United States desired the commission to consider were the payment of indemnities to American citizens for damages sustained in the course of revolutionary activities and also an agreement which would protect their property there from future exploitation by the government and people; and the truth of this statement was afterward shown by the course of the negotiations.
The United States was represented on this commission by Secretary of the Interior Lane, Judge Gray of Delaware, and Dr. John R. Mott, three of the ablest men in the country. Shortly after the commission convened in the Griswold Hotel at New London, Connecticut, I visited the hotel and remained for several days. While there, the President came to New London on his yacht. The
