File No. 812.00/6820.
The American Consul at Hermosillo to the Secretary of State.
Hermosillo, Sonora, March 15, 1913.
Sir: I have the honor to report that as the road is now open and some chance for letters to go through I will try and give a statement of events as they happened.
The State Government upon receiving notice of the imprisonment of President Madero from General Huerta, telegraphed to the Ministro de Gobernación for information regarding the state of affairs and whether the telegraphic information from General Huerta was correct or not. They claim to have received no answer to the same. In the meantime I worked with them to secure recognition of the Provisional Government and had succeeded when the news of the assassination of Madero and Pino Suárez was received and this ended the matter for the time being. I then received a telegram from the Ambassador asking to do what was possible for recognition. I again worked with these people and secured a promise that if a majority of the States of the Republic were recognizing the same and [if] I could secure this information from the Ambassador they would recognize the Provisional Government. I never received an answer to the same. I then telegraphed to the Honorable Ambassador that as the State had such a strong following here it would be best for the present, if the Central Government did not have enough troops to subdue the State, to withdraw the few that were here, and the State people guaranteed [Page 780] to have peace and order throughout the State in ten days and then would go, with a commission of the Chamber of Commerce, and discuss recognition. I also advised that as the Federal Government had never corresponded direct with the State Government it would be advisable to do so and take the matter up directly with them. To this came no answer and the State Congress, then in session, decided to leave the question open for the present until they knew the exact state of affairs. This decision they telegraphed to Mexico City, when, in return, they received a very short telegram signed “Granaclos” stating they wanted to know at once whether they would recognize the Provisional Government or not. This brought on the decision not to recognize the same. [Description of destruction of the railroad.] The Chamber of Commerce here elected two members to go to Mexico and see if peace could not be established in some manner. One of these, a Mr. Alejandro Lacy, * * * was arrested. * * * The [State] Government, upon acting for itself, took possession of all Federal Government offices, and also named bank examiners to take the place of those appointed by the Federal Government. These the banks refused to recognize and so closed their doors. * * * Perfect protection is given to Americans and their property and no one has been molested in any way except the railroad company. * * * I have been of great assisstance to Americans and all foreigners here, as the State Government know I have been working for peace and for the good of all parties. * * * If the Mexican Government in the City of Mexico could be made to withdraw the few troops they have here in the State and allow these people to restore peace and order, which they can very easily do in ten days’ time, the question of recognition could then be gone over with any commission sent from here and can be settled. The principal thing the State desires is the right to elect its own officials and have no military governor. If, as from appearances, the Provisional President has no troops to send to Sonora at present and is not in a position to dominate the situation, he should be made to accede to this and end all bloodshed and trouble in the State until he is strong enough to better his own desires.
I have not received a single telegram either from the Department or Mexico City since the fifth day of this month.
I have [etc.]