File No. 812.00/23435.
The Special Commissioners to the Secretary of State.
We met the Mediators at 9.30 this evening and they brought forward as a plan of their own suggestion, which they believed was feasible and could be made acceptable, that General Huerta appoint as Minister for Foreign Affairs a man of standing and character and of Constitutionalist principled who would be satisfactory to the [Page 502] Constitutionalists, neutrals and the United States; that Huerta then resign, the person appointed Minister for Foreign Affairs thereupon succeeding under the Constitution as Provisional President; that thereupon steps be taken to carry out a constructive program, that is, the election of a President and Congress under the Constitution, with provision for the reforms deemed to be essential to permanent results; that upon the retirement of General Huerta and the accession to the presidency of the person appointed Minister for Foreign Affairs as before stated, there be an end of all hostilities if an attempt should be made to continue them, and an embargo be placed on the importation of arms and ammunition, to take effect upon the retirement of General Huerta and the succession to the presidency of the Constitutionalist in the manner stated.
As one man who might well be considered for the provisional presidency, the Mediators mentioned Señor Lascurain, who was Minister for Foreign Affairs appointed by Francisco Madero and who upon the death of Madero would and should have succeeded to the provisional presidency if he had not been forced to resign by General Huerta and who might therefore be considered to be the constitutional and Constitutionalist successor to Francisco Madero. But the Mediators stated that there might be other persons chosen who would be entirely satisfactory.
While the Mediators had had a conference with the Mexican representatives during the day, the proposition was not made as coming from the Mexicans but was suggested on the part of the Mediators themselves as their own plan, and was coupled with the statement that they believed it would be acceptable to the Mexican representatives. And the plan was of course predicated on the assumption that General Huerta would resign, and as to this they seemed to be very sanguine. The argument was that arms ought no longer to be imported when there was no occasion for further war, Huerta having been eliminated. They also seemed to assume that in the election that would be held the Constitutionalists would inevitably be successful, having the prestige of victors in the field.
We stated to the Mediators that we could not at present give them an answer and might not be able to do so in the morning, when they are to have a formal conference with the Mexican representatives.