File No. 812.00/12130.
The Special Commissioners
to the Secretary of State.
No. 8.]
Niagara Falls, N. Y.,
May 31, 1914.
Sir: We met the Mediators at half past nine
last evening and they informed us that they had not yet finally
determined their course with respect to the letter26 of May 28 from Mr. Zubáran
acting on behalf of General Carranza, but they had determined that they
would not admit representatives of General Carranza to the mediation
except upon the conditions upon which the other parties had appeared,
one of these, and a very practical one, being consent to an armistice
pending the mediation. The Hague agreement they said did not apply here,
inasmuch as the Mediators at the very start had made the suspension of
hostilities a condition of using their friendly offices to bring about a
solution of the difficulties between the parties, and
[Page 515]
we understood from them that this
condition was one imposed upon them by the Governments they
represented.
They submitted to us a copy of the letter sent by Mr. Zubáran and
suggested that it indicated a refusal by General Carranza in any event
to accept the mediation as applicable to anything except the Tampico
incident and matters immediately related thereto. We enclose a copy of
the Zubáran letter.26
As supporting their suggestion they called particular attention to the
Washington correspondence on page five of the New York Times of May
30th, 1914,27 in
which it is stated that General Carranza is willing to accept mediation
as to—
- 1.
- The Tampico flag incident.
- 2.
- The arrest of the American mail orderly at Vera Cruz.
- 3.
- The censorship of the despatch sent by Secretary Bryan to the
American Chargé d’Affaires.
- 4.
- The American occupation of Vera Cruz.
- 5.
- The demand of the United States for the retirement of General
Huerta.
It is further stated in the article that General Carranza has not been
willing to accept mediation of problems internal in their nature, as—
- 1.
- The establishment of a new provisional government in
Mexico.
- 2.
- The settlement of the land question.
- 3.
- The recognition, through mediation, of the validity of the
acts, loans and debts of the Huerta régime, or in any way make
them binding upon the new government in Mexico.
The Mediators evidently regarded this article as an inspired one and
argued that so long as General Carranza held to these views it would
only retard progress to admit his representatives to the mediation. They
pointed also to the publication in this same issue of the Times of the
full correspondence between themselves and General Carranza as evidence
of a purpose on his part to make manifest and emphasize the fact that
from the beginning he had refused mediation as to any internal or other
than strictly international questions or problems.
They were willing to receive the Carranza representatives at any time if
they came in as the other parties had done.
They had not yet made any answer to Mr. Zubáran’s letter nor determined
what kind of answer to make, but expressed the hope that their
suspension of this would not delay proceedings as between the parties to
the conference.
They argued that if the parties represented reached an agreement General
Carranza must accept the result, as it would secure the retirement of
General Huerta and the establishment of a provisional government in
which the Constitutionalists would be predominant and which would be
pledged to the needed internal reforms. So there would be no occasion
for a continuance of hostilities as the immediate objects of the
revolution would have been attained. Furthermore they argued that this
settlement having been reached, and the provisional government having
been recognized by Argentina,
[Page 516]
Brazil, Chile and the United States, the other nations would also
recognize it and General Carranza would not then be able to maintain
himself, if he attempted to do so, against the provisional
government.
We argued that it would be wise, in any event, to admit General Carranza
without terms as to his appearance, inasmuch as mediation did not assume
to compel the parties, but only to persuade or induce them to agreement,
and the moral stress upon General Carranza to concur in any agreement
reached by the other parties would be much greater if he had had an
opportunity to be heard.
We are confronted with the possibility of a conclusion of the mediation
in which General Carranza does not concur, and which may result in the
establishment of a provisional government in which the Carrancistas
predominate and which, although the result of the mediation, may decline
to accept results of that mediation other than those it deems to be
international in their character and may object to all else as an
interference with the internal affairs of Mexico and an impairment of
her autonomy and sovereignty.
As the negotiations proceed and the situation develops, the personnel of
the provisional government becomes a question of increasing difficulty,
delicacy and importance.
The land question may be pressed upon us at any meeting. We should
therefore like suggestions as to how far we are to discuss this.
Obviously the details of land legislation, if to be undertaken now; or
even a statement of the general principles of such legislation, requires
a knowledge of Mexican conditions we do not possess. We feel the need of
expert assistance and would like suggestions comprehensive and explicit
as may be.
It has been suggested to us that the provisional government should do
something in the way of promulgating and furthering the needed reforms.
How far is it desired this government should go? We have in mind that
the provisional government is a transient institution and an executive
rather than a legislative authority, there being as we understand no
congress now in existence which our Government recognizes as legitimate.
If we are mistaken as to this we would like to be corrected. How far can
the provisional government, which has no legislative authority, bind or
in any wise affect the action of the full constitutional government
which is, as the result of an election, to succeed the provisional
government? The members of the provisional government may, we
understand, pledge themselves to use their influence to accomplish
prescribed reforms, but is it intended that they may make orders or
ordinances that will constrain the action of the permanent
constitutional government inaugurated by the Mexican people in
consequence of the election for which the provisional is to make proper
arrangements?
The work grows as we proceed with it, and we desire to keep you fully
advised and to get your views as to the various phases of the case as
they present themselves and press for attention.
We have [etc.]
-
J. R. Lamar.
-
F. W. Lehmann.
[Page 517]
[Inclosure 1—Telegram.]
File No. 812.001/12130.
The Mediators to
General Carranza.
Washington,
April 29, 1914.
We, the plenipotentiaries of Brazil, Argentina and Chile, have been
authorized by our respective Governments to offer our good offices
to all the parties interested in a friendly and peaceful solution of
the conflict between the United States and Mexico. In informing the
Chief Commander of the Constitutionalist forces of this fact we
trust that, if he accepts in principle our good offices in case his
patriotic sentiments should lead him to do it, he will empower us to
enter later into the details of the negotiations. We take the
liberty to send you directly this communication after having
attempted unsuccessfully for several days to communicate it to you
through the Constitutionalist agents in Washington.
-
D. Da Gama, Ambassador of Brazil.
-
E. Suarez Mujica, Minister of Chile.
-
R. S. Naón, Minister of Argentina.
[Inclosure 2—Telegram.]
General Carranza
to the Mediators.
Chihuahua,
April 29, 1914.
I thank you very sincerely for the offer you have made to me in the
name of your respective Governments to use your good offices with a
view to solving, through friendly and peaceful means, the pending
conflict between the United States and Mexico. Making use of the
powers vested in my capacity of First Chief of the Constitutionalist
Army, I accept in principle the good offices of Brazil, Argentina
and Chile, offered to Mexico through your worthy conduct. Leaving
for a later time to enter into details of the negotiations, I have
the honor to express to you my sentiments of appreciation and high
consideration.
[Inclosure 3—Telegram.]
The Mediators to
General Carranza.
Washington,
April 30, 1914.
We have been very pleased to receive your courteous telegram
accepting our good offices, which are now accepted by the three
parties in a friendly and peaceful solution of the pending conflict
between Mexico and the United States. As a consequence of your
acceptance it would be necessary to suspend from now on, and during
the time that the mediation action develops, all hostilities and
military operations by all of the contending parties, for it will
doubtless be improper that discussions by means of which we are
trying to reach a final solution, and in which the whole world,
especially America, have placed their hope, should be disturbed by
the painful spectacle of bloody warfare. Please accept the
expression of our highest consideration.
-
Da Gama. Naón.
-
Suarez Mujica.
[Inclosure 4—Telegram.]
The Mediators to
General Carranza.
Regardless of the answer we await to our telegram dated April 30, we
have the honor to manifest to you that, our good offices having been
accepted by all
[Page 518]
the
parties interested in the friendly and peaceful solution of the
conflict between Mexico and the United States, the time has come
when it is necessary to make these negotiations formal. For this
purpose it is necessary that each one of the parties should appoint
a representative before the Mediators, with a view to proceed to the
discussion of the basis of the agreement. Please advise us at your
earliest convenience when you have your representatives appointed,
and as soon as this is done we will immediately communicate to you
the date and the place for the inauguration of the conference.
-
Da Gama.
-
Naón.
-
Suarez Mujica.
[Inclosure 5—Telegram.]
General Carranza
to the Mediators.
I have the honor to refer to your message of yesterday. Having
accepted in principle the good offices of the nations which you so
worthily represent, I take the liberty now to ask you to be kind
enough to make definite the points which are to be covered by said
good offices in the pending conflict between the United States and
Mexico, so that I may appoint a representative with due
authorization.
[Inclosure 6—Telegram.]
General Carranza
to the Mediators.
I take pleasure in addressing you again to answer your kind message
of yesterday relative to the armistice, and I beg to say that the
international conflict between the United States and Mexico (this
conflict having been intentionally brought about by Huerta, and for
the solution of which I hastened to accept in the principle the good
offices of Brazil, Argentina and Chile) is independent of our
internal struggle for liberty and right.
I therefore deem it inadvisable for the Constitutionalist cause,
which I represent, to suspend hostilites and military operations,
because such suspension would only accrue to the benefit of Huerta.
The civil war in Mexico between the usurper Huerta and the army
under my command, that is to say, the people of Mexico in arms, must
continue with all activity so as to reestablish the interrupted
constitutional regime as soon as possible, and consequently to
obtain peace.
In view of this fact I beg you to be kind enough to excuse me for not
accepting the armistice which you have thought convenient to propose
to me, and I also beg you to see in this action determination on my
part to do whatever is best in the interests of my own country.
[Inclosure 7—Telegram.]
The Mediators to
General Carranza.
We have received your courteous telegraphic message of yesterday
[to-day?]in which you inform us that you deem it inadvisable for the
Constitutionalist cause to suspend hostilities against General
Huerta because such suspension would benefit the latter only and in
which you state that the international conflict between Mexico and
the United States, for the solution of which you accepted our good
offices, is independent of the internal strife in Mexico. We
consider this unexpected declaration incompatible with the purpose
which prompted our tender of good offices. We believe, indeed, that
all difficulties which have contributed to bring about the present
situation of Mexico, directly or indirectly affect the solution of
the conflict pending between Mexico and the United States, and
consequently we understand that they must be made the
[Page 519]
subject-matter of
consideration in the settlement of negotiations for the full success
of which we have deemed the suspension of hostilities to be
indispensable. If you should not so understand, we should be
compelled to withdraw as inefficacious our invitation to appoint
Representatives of the Constitutionalist Party to attend these
negotiations. We greet you with all our consideration.
-
D. da Gama, Ambassador Brazil.
-
R. S. Naón, Minister Argentina.
-
E. Suárez Mujica, Minister Chile.
[Inclosure 8—Translation.]
Señor R. Zubáran
Capmany, representing General
Carranza, to the Mediators.
Washington,
May 28, 1914.
Your Excellencies: The undersigned, the
special representative of the First Chief of the Constitutionalist
Government of Mexico, Venustiano Carranza, following express
instructions, has the honor to communicate to your excellency, the
Ambassador of Brazil, and your excellencies, the Ministers of Chile
and Argentina, the following:
Prompted by a noble desire to solve in an amicable and peaceful
manner the conflict pending between the United States and the
Mexican Nation, your excellencies addressed the Government of the
United States, General Huerta and the First Chief of the
Constitutionalist Army, tendering your good offices and inviting
each of the interested parties to appoint representatives for the
purpose of discussing the details of the negotiations.
The Chief of the Constitutionalist Government, greatly appreciating
the good wishes and sympathy of the sister Republics of the American
continent, accepted28 the tender29 in principle, and, owing to the complexity of the
situation in Mexico, he’ deemed it necessary to request your
excellencies to define the scope of the proposed mediation, to the
end that he might appoint duly authorized representatives.30
Without having received a specific reply to this inquiry, the Chief
of the Constitutionalist Government was notified that if hostilities
against Huerta were not suspended—which proposed suspension he
deemed to be inconsistent with his duties to the people of
Mexico—your excellencies would be compelled to withdraw as
inefficacious the invitation to him to appoint representatives.31
He is now informed that the mediation conferences have been taking
place for some time, with representatives of the Huerta Government
participating in the deliberations, and he regrets that efforts
should have been made and continue to be made to solve the conflict
between the United States and Mexico without taking into
consideration the fact that the Constitutionalist cause, which he
represents, has the support of a majority of the inhabitants of
Mexico and has the largest armed forces within the Republic, and
that these forces, acting under his command, have been able to
recover from the power of Huerta, since the initiation of the
mediation, the cities of Monterey, Tampico and Saltillo, with the
adjoining territory, and the Territory of Tepic.
Under these circumstances, the Chief of the Constitutionalist
Government finds himself compelled to state to your excellencies,
with all the respect and consideration due your high offices, that
he considers the said conflict should not be the subject of
negotiations at the mediation conferences in the absence of
representatives of the First Chief of the Constitutionalist
Army.
The undersigned avails [etc.]
