File No. 812.00/1194.
Confidential Agency of the Mexican Provisional
Government,
Washington, March 27,
1911.
No. 3.]
In thus obeying the instructions of the said Provisional Government, I
have the honor to express to your excellency the assurances of my
highest and most distinguished consideration.
[Inclosure.]
The Provisional President of
Mexico to the Secretary of
State.
[Translation.]
Guadalupe, Bravos District,
Chihauhua, Mexico, February 15, 1911.
Excellency: I have the honor to state to
your excellency the causes which have imperatively obliged the
Mexican nation to take up arms in order to liberate itself from the
tyranny of anticonstitutional authorities and to reestablish lawful
rule in government and popular sovereignty in the Mexican
Republic.
The matter under consideration is a national insurrection, both just
and necessary, inasmuch as the people of Mexico have vainly
exhausted legal and pacific measures, first, to vote freely in
elections and afterwards to denounce and set aside the scandalous
electoral fraud which had been committed; patriotic, because it has
no other purpose than the reestablishment of the constitutional
régime; arid finally, necessary, because for many years justice has
not been meritoriously administered, so that the Mexican nation has
been forced to exist without the benefit of the guaranties accorded
it by law.
The causes of the insurrection being as stated, the Provisional
Government trusts in the sentiments of humanity and justice which
guide the conduct of all civilized peoples to obtain the sympathy
which at all times struggles for justice and liberty have
inspired.
The Provisional Government of the Republic will, at the proper time
and in due form, take steps to secure just recognition from the
Government of your excellency, but in the meantime permit me to call
your excellency’s attention to the following points and statements:
- A.
- The leaders of the national insurrectionist forces have
been strictly and precisely directed to take careful heed
that during the conflict the laws of war be observed,
equally in matters directly connected with it and in
everything relating to neutrality and the guaranties
accorded the ambulance service or the Red Cross of both
sections of the belligerents, as well as the persons and
properties belonging to neutral foreigners.
- B.
- The Provisional Government recognizes and indorses all
existing international treaties entered into between Mexico
and foreign powers prior to November 30, 1910. It also
recognizes and will respect all obligations contracted by
the Mexican Government with corporations or individuals
previous to November 30, 1910.
- C.
- From the time of its official recognition by the
Government of a nation, the Provisional Government in the
name of the Mexican Republic will be responsible for damages
and injuries direct or material occasioned by the war to the
citizens or subjects of that nation, both in their persons
and the enterprises which they operate in the country. This
guaranty will become effective from the day in which the
belligerency of the insurrectionist forces is
recognized.
- D.
- In the maritime and frontier customhouses occupied by the
Provisional Government documents issued by the consular
bureaus of the usurping Government will not be recognized
and in order to reduce the hindrances which war may cause to
commerce, the Provisional Government will at the proper time
designate consuls, vice-consuls, or consular agents wherever
necessary and, if this be not feasible, will appoint agents
with special instructions in the customhouses and ports
under the jurisdiction of the Provisional Government, in
order that after a careful inspection of the respective
documents they may permit the entry of merchandise coming
from foreign friendly countries.
- E.
- The triumph of the national insurrection is assured, for
it has secured the aid of the whole Mexican nation.
Consequently there is every reason to believe that the war
in the Mexican Republic will be of short duration, and that
at an early date, in accordance with the Plan of
Insurrection and in deference to the precepts of the Federal
Constitution for whose reestablishment the struggle is
carried on, the nation will be called upon to effect
completely free elections by virtue of which the said
constitutional regime may be restored.
- F.
- Although the usurping Government has endeavored to
represent the national insurrection as a movement of small
significance and of a simply predatory character, facts have
demonstrated fully that such is not the case and that it is
really a general insurrection throughout all the districts
of the country. The usurping Government has further
demonstrated its absolute powerlessness not only to crush it
out entirely or even to control the growing popular
[Page 438]
movement which
decidedly supports the Provisional Government. Foreign
residents in the regions occupied by the insurrectionists
forces have had no cause for complaint or claims against the
unlawful acts of the insurrectionists whose conduct has
unanimously indicated humanity and respect for private
property. The, leaders of the insurrection have known how to
energetically repress evry indication of abuses undertaken
by private individuals not connected with the conflict who
thought to avail themselves of the abnormal circumstances
for personal and illegal advantage.
With the foregoing observations, I have the honor to inform the
illustrious Government worthily represented by your excellency that
the interests and persons of its citizens have been and will
continue to be protected by the Provisional Government over which I
have the honor to preside, and by the military leaders of the
national insurrection.
I present [etc.],
