File No. 812.00/9631.
The American Chargé
d’Affaires to the Secretary of
State.
No. 2113.]
American Embassy,
Mexico,
October 28, 1913.
Sir: Referring to my telegrams Nos. 582 and
587, regarding the alleged private instructions sent to the Governor of
Puebla regarding the elections, I have the honor to inform the
Department that I have not altered my opinion expressed in telegram No.
587.
I have the honor to transmit herewith a copy of the document in question
received by this Embassy as well as a translation thereof.
I have [etc.]
[Inclosure—Translation.]
General Huerta to
the Military Governor of Puebla.
Private Instructions from the Federal Government to
General Joaquín Mass, Military Governor of the State of Puebla, to
the end that he may transmit the same to the Jefes Polfticos of the
State.
- 1st.
- If any Municipal President has entered into agreement with any
of the militant political parties, his removal from office shall
be discreetly sought, and in the case it should not be possible,
cautious efforts shall be made to secure complete solidarity
between said presidents and the Jefes Politicos.
- 2d.
- It is especially recommended that the persons in charge of the
polls should be completely and absolutely reliable, so that they
may follow the instructions given to them.
- 3d.
- If there should be sufficient time for it, strict orders
should be given that polls for rural estates should not be
established in the seat of the municipality or town, but in the
estates themselves of the electoral division, this for the
purpose of avoiding the attendance of those who are to take
charge of the polls, the principal object being to prevent the
elections in two-thirds, plus one, of the polls constituting the
district. Therefore, the greatest number of polls shall be * * *
To meet the provisions of the law, and conceal the
above-mentioned omission, a complete list should be published
giving the names of the persons who are to have charge of the
polls in accordance with article 13 of the electoral law of May
31, 1913, it being understood that only the appointments
corresponding to the third part or less shall be sent to the
sections, among which are to be included the polls in the urban
wards.
- 4th.
- In all the polls which may operate, blank tickets shall be
made use of in order that the absolute majority of the votes may
be cast in favor of Gral. Huerta for President, and Gral.
Blanquet for Vice President.
- 5th.
- In spite of the fact that article 31 provides that the returns
should be at once and directly sent to the Chamber of Deputies,
the chairmen of the polls shall be instructed that the returns
be sent to the Political Prefecture, which returns shall be
quickly examined by the Jefe Político, and if the same are found
to be in accordance with the instructions given therein, he
shall return them to the chairmen, informing them that they must
send them directly to the Chamber of Deputies. If upon making
the examination, it should appear that the third part of the
polls have not acted right, they shall fail to send the number
of returns that may be necessary, to the end that the Chamber of
Deputies may receive only one-third or less of the total.
- 6th.
- Political parties and citizens shall be given full freedom in
the polls which may operate, allowing them to make all kinds of
protests, provided they refer to votes in favor of any of the
candidates appearing before the people; but care shall be taken
that such protests do not refer to the votes mentioned in
paragraph 4 of these instructions.
- 7th.
- If upon examining the returns the Jefes Politicos should find
that the votes do not agree with the instructions, before
sending them they should fix them up to the end that the note of
transmission, the minutes of the election, etc., should agree
with the instructions.
- 8th.
- Persons shall be chosen who will inspire absolute confidence
and are well versed in the electoral law, to make a quiet and
reserved inspection of the polls which may be in operation and
to present before them all sorts of protests in accordance with
article 30 of the electoral law, it being understood that all
protests should refer to the candidates who may be in the field,
but never in regard to votes mentioned in paragraph 4.
- 9th.
- After elections, they shall make a quick concentration of the
polls which were in operation, and shall communicate this
information to the Government, if possible, on the same day and
in cipher and by special courier.
- 10th.
- Under the most strict responsibility, the Governor of a State
who may receive these instructions shall comply with them, under
the penalty of discharge from office and other punishment which
the Federal Government may see fit to apply.
Mexico, October 22, 1913.