File No. 812.00/23444.
The Special Commissioners to the Secretary of State.
In your telegram of the 24th you suggested that we submit to the Mediators, in the manner we thought best, the points therein mentioned. After discussing it among ourselves and in view of matters [Page 507] hereafter to be stated, we deemed it advisable not to read to the Mediators either the telegram or extracts from it but arranged for a meeting at ten p.m. We then stated to the Mediators that because of the consequences to which it might lead and the responsibilities that might be involved, the President could not accede to their plan of securing an armistice or forcing an embargo, but that he recognized that their suggestion for the withdrawal of Huerta and the appointment of a provisional government composed of Constitutionalists contained the germ of a plan that should be successful where all were interested in the speedy cessation of arms.
We further stated that we did not desire to invade the province of the Mediators and would not at this time undertake to outline any plan unless they themselves desired us to do so. After considerable discussion among themselves they requested that we make any suggestions as a basis for discussion in which each one could frankly and without being committed feel at liberty to propose whatever might occur to him. Though they did not express themselves they were evidently disappointed at the failure to secure an armistice.* * * Notwithstanding their disappointment they agreed that we might give to the press a statement that they had heretofore made suggestions as to a plan of adjustment but that we, after correspondence with Washington, had made other suggestions and that the matter was hopeful and proceeding favorably. They then proposed that we meet the next day at three to begin formulating a plan.
We beg to call to your attention that in the minutes prepared by their secretaries of the meetings of the full conference—which means the Mediators, the Mexican representatives and ourselves—they uniformly speak of the Mexican representatives as the representatives of the Mexican Government.* * * We deem it proper to submit this matter for your consideration.