812.00/16344½a
The Secretary of State to President Wilson
My Dear Mr. President: We have just finished the Mexican Conference, and I am sorry to say that we failed to carry out in full the program embodied in the Argentine Ambassador’s Resolution which I sent to you.23 The failure was due to the Brazilian Ambassador who is apparently opposed to all the revolutionary factions in Mexico [Page 553] to the extent that he is unwilling to be in any way responsible for the recognition of any of them. I believe, however, that in case this Government determines to recognize a de facto government in Mexico he will advise his Government to follow our course.
The split came over notifying the representatives of the factions to meet us separately in conference. The Argentine Ambassador and the Ministers from Bolivia and Uruguay supported strongly the proposal. The Chilean Ambassador was not in entire accord but I believe would have submitted if da Gama had agreed. The Guatemalan, though he said nothing, was evidently favorable.
As a consequence, we got no further than to agree to recommend to our respective Governments the recognition of a de facto Government in Mexico as soon as possible. I enclose for your information, copy of the agreement.
It was further understood that independently we should collect all the evidence we could as to the facts showing which Government in Mexico, on account of stability, was able to give adequate guarantees to perform its international obligations. It was recognized there were various sources of information as to these facts. I expressed the view that I thought the two principal factions should have the opportunity to present by personal representatives the reasons why one should be recognized over the other, and that I thought it might be well for me to invite the Chiefs of these factions to send such representatives to Washington, before our next conference in order that I might have an interview with them and with any other members of the Conference who desired to participate.
Since the Conference adjourned I have been thinking it might possibly be better to orally communicate with the representatives of the two factions already in this country, and ask them for an interview of this sort. In this way we would not get into difficulties which might arise if we formally addressed either Carranza or Villa. I told the Conference that I should have to submit the question of such interviews to you for your approval before I took such a step. If you approve the latter of these plans of obtaining the facts as to the situation in Mexico, I would suggest that Mr. Polk ask Arredondo and Llorente to come and see him, and to tell them that I desire to see them in about two weeks, in order that they could present their case for recognition to me orally and in writing. In case the more formal method is adopted, I think telegrams should be sent to the de facto Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Carranza and Villa, asking them to send delegates to meet me at the time I suggest. Meanwhile, I think we should telegraph our various Consuls in Mexico as to the exact situation in their localities.
[Page 554]I am disappointed, naturally, that the plan that we had agreed upon was not carried through, but as it has failed, to an extent, I think we should follow out some such scheme as the one above proposed.
Faithfully yours,