File No. 812.00/23490.
The Special Commissioners to the Secretary of State.
Referring to and repeating our conversation over the long-distance telephone this afternoon:
The mediation was offered to settle the conflict between the United States and Mexico. The delegates who were here claimed to represent the United States of Mexico and are so referred to in the minutes. We, however, filed a protest stating that we could not recognize them as representing the United States of Mexico, and all the minutes are signed subject to that protest.
In view of that protest and the protocols agreed to last week we are, however, in the position of having made a settlement of the international matters between the United States and Mexico when there is no representative of Mexico before the Mediators.
The Mediators have asked us to sign the protocols and we do not see how we can refuse, but cannot refrain from calling attention to the apparent incongruity of making an agreement as to international affairs when we ourselves claim that there is no representative of Mexico before the Mediators. These minutes contain a statement that these protocols are signed on the supposition that internal matters would be adjusted between the representatives of the Mexican factions; but if unfortunately that expectation was not realized, then the protocols could be reconsidered if necessary.
Of course this incongruity was originally occasioned by our expectation that the Constitutionalists would either become a party to the mediation or accept its decision, and the technical difficulty will still be removed if the Constitutionalists do enter into negotiations as to internal affairs with the representatives who are now here.
In view of the fact that the Mediators are very earnest in their desire to have the minutes signed, and our promise to give it immediate attention, we should be glad to hear from you as soon as convenient.