File No. 812.00/5358.
The American Chargé d’Affaires to the Secretary of State.
Mexico, October 27, 1912—12 noon.
Both Mexicans and foreigners have crowded this Embassy asking that I take some action with President Madero in behalf of Díaz, [Page 925] some insisting that he should not be executed; others that such execution be postponed. I have replied to one and all that the Embassy could not under any circumstances take action or make representations, as his case was one of Mexican internal politics.
Similar visits of committees from their colonies with petitions to take some action for the sake of humanity have been received by the other members of the Diplomatic Corps, who have been much excited over the reported determination to execute Díaz. The wife of the Spanish Minister (acting Dean of the Diplomatic Corps), herself a Mexican by birth, went to see the Maderos, but was coldly received. The British Minister was very active for a time, saying that of course he could not act in the name of his Government without instructions, but was acting for his colony. German and French Ministers will do nothing.
Madero has made a speech, in reply to a manifestation, in which he concludes:
General Díaz will be punished with all rigor. And I know very well that it is the wish of the nation that the blood of the guilty wash out the blood shed by General Díaz on June 25, 1879.