Office of the Historian

File No. 812.032/4.

The American Ambassador to the Secretary of State.

American Embassy,
Mexico, September 19, 1911.
No. 948.]

Sir: I have the honor to transmit to the Department the text in English and Spanish of the message read by President de la Barra on the occasion of the opening of the first period of the Mexican Congress, on the 16th instant, for the fiscal year 1911–12. The attention of the Department is especially called to that portion of the message which relates to the attitude of the Mexican Government concerning the payment of claims growing out of the recent revolution.

I have [etc.],

Henry Lane Wilson.
[Inclosure.]

Message of President de la Barra to the Twenty-fifth Congress, Third Session, September 16, 1911.

[Extracts translated from the Diario Oficial, covering all references to the revolution and to the relations with the United States, except the Chamizal case.]

The relations of Mexico with other civilized countries have not changed in any way, in spite of the intense crisis which we have just passed. These relations continue on the same basis of sincere friendship on which they have rested many years, and there is nothing at present to cause fear of the loss of this invaluable advantage, so necessary for our moral and material development and for maintaining the position we hold in the concert of nations.

The Indemnity Commission [Comisión Consultiva de Indemnizaciones] as a prompt and effective medium for repairing as far as possible the damages suffered by nationals and foreigners during and due to the recent revolution, has been fully appreciated by all friendly Governments as a proof of the lofty spirit of justice that animates the Executive Power; and it is to be hoped that it alone will suffice for the settlement of all claims relative to citizens and to subjects of foreign countries, making improbable the diplomatic presentation of such claims.

The deplorable events at Torreon and Covadonga have required special methods of inquiry and rigorous application of the law.

The insurrection begun last November, of which an account was given in a previous message, came to its full development, counting as it did on public opinon, with the result that on the 21st of May an agreement was concluded at Ciudad Juarez between Government commissioners and representatives of the chief of the revolution, by which hostilities were ended throughout the Republic and arrangements made for mustering out the revolutionary forces according as public order should be restored.

Since then peace has de facto prevailed, save for the natural upheavals and isolated movements that always follow revolution, but which fortunately have [Page 518] disappeared with the change of local authorities in the various States; and the Government is taking special pains for the orderly conduct of the coming elections so that the people will be amply protected in the exercise of their rights.