File No. 812.00/11715.
Consul Johnson to the Secretary of State.
Colonel Ricey, member of General Carranza’s staff, has just left my office after delivering a verbal message sent me by the General.
He said that in case war was declared by the Americans, General Carranza and the men under him would not fight the American troops but would evacuate the city and leave their wives and children here, knowing that the American people are their friends and that their families would be safe with them. He assured me that if any Mexican should dare utter one word insulting to me, he would be shot down in my presence; that if I had to leave here I should have a guard of honor to escort me to the line and I should be allowed to take with me anything that I wanted to take. They have the highest regard for President Wilson and yourself and believe that it is not your wish to try to exterminate the entire Mexican people on account of that drunken reprobate Huerta. They will protect the American people and their property at all hazards, for they owe them all the success obtained on account of the great influence furnished by them. They cannot and they will not fight the Americans. They will not join Huerta under any circumstances.
[Page 488]Colonel Ricey is in command here and is a nephew of Governor Carranza.