File No. 812.00/5287.
The American Consul at Vera Cruz to the Secretary of State.
Vera Cruz, October 19, 1912—10 a.m.
General Felix Diaz, in command in this city, requests that I forward the following:
General Felix Diaz to the Secretary of State.
Secretary of State Knox,
Washington, U. S. A.:
On account of my occupancy of a place which is the principal port of the Republic, I beg that the belligerency of the armed movement which I have initiated be recognized. My program, which I have fully made known, is no other than that of the reestablishment of peace in the Republic, counting upon it that all insurrectionists are in accord with me and will abandon their attitude (i. e., the way they are conducting their independent campaigns against the Government) if I intervene as a third in the dispute. A great part of the chiefs of the army are with me—almost all, I may say, of the officers and soldiers. It is clearly to be seen, therefore, that the combatants on both sides are worn out by the shameless war they find themselves obliged to carry on as a result of the infamies and shortcomings of the present Government. I have given my word of honor before the world that I have no personal ambition whatsoever and wish only to set the feet of my country again in the paths of peace, of order, and of labor. Accordingly, I shall assume supreme command only until national life shall be completely normalized, at which time I shall call elections throughout the country so that in calmness and a right mind the people may freely elect whomever shows the greatest evidence of fitness. To him who triumphs I will lend the aid of all my powers, so that he may take quiet and peaceful possession of his office, and when I shall have retired from active politics I will continue to give him my moral aid. I also solemnly declare that I will not directly aid any other candidate whatsoever, no matter of what party he may be, since he who triumphs will owe his success exclusively to the ballot boxes.
The time during which I have been in occupation of this port has demonstrated what are the methods of procedure that I think ought to be followed by any chief in authority—not the slightest attack upon either property or persons, no exaction upon business, industry, or investment; public funds scrupulously and perfectly accounted for, profound respect for the partisans of the Madero Government in so far as their ideas have, as until now, translated themselves into inviolable guaranties of liberty of thought within the law and morals, for not one of them has been arrested, despite the vehemence of certain of them, who formed the only discordant note in the peace and harmony which has reigned in this port since my arrival.
Begging you to pardon me for the omission of certain customary forms, which is due to the abnormal circumstances by which I am surrounded, I beg you to communicate the substance of this communication to the honorable the President of the United States of America, whose reply I anxiously and respectfully await. I beg to assure you of my most high and distinguished consideration.
Felix Díaz.