Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, With the Address of the President to Congress December 8, 1914

File No. 812.00/12432.

Secretary Dodge to the Secretary of State.

No. 29.]

Department of State,
Washington, July 6, 1914.

Sir: I have the honor to enclose herewith a copy, which I have now been able to obtain, of the material part of the letter addressed by General Carranza to the Mediators in reply to their letter to him of the 21st ultimo. This letter is quoted in the Mediators’ letter to our Commissioners announcing a recess, of which a copy was enclosed in my despatch No. 26 of the 3rd instant.

I have [etc.]

H. Percival Dodge

.

[Inclosure—Translation.]

[Untitled]

Material portion of a letter addressed by General Carranza to the Mediators in reply to their letter dated June 21, 1911

The Chief of the Constitutionalist Government duly appreciates the noble purpose of the Mediators in addressing him an invitation to treat directly with the Delegates of General Huerta on the organization of a provisional government capable of bringing about in a prompt and consistent form the pacification of Mexico. But notwithstanding his good will to give to the country an organic and durable peace by any means which will not bring to naught the great sacrifices which the Mexican people have made in the present struggle, he is compelled to consult the opinion of the generals of the Constitutionalist Army before deciding on the appointment of delegates to confer on his behalf with those of General Huerta regarding the possibility of reaching an agreement putting an end to the war.

This obligation arises from the promise made by Mr. Carranza and by all Constitutionalists faithfully to carry out the Plan of Guadalupe, which proposes to restore the constitutional order by means of a provisional president and which would be modified if such a government were made to emanate from a possible agreement with the Delegates of General Huerta, as well as from his earnest desire that any agreement reached be strictly fulfilled.

With this end in view and in furtherance of the efforts of the Mediators to procure a peaceful solution of the struggle which the Mexican people have been compelled to sustain in the defense of its institutions, the. First Chief has already addressed the generals of the Constitutionalist Army in consultation, and only desires to request the Mediators to allow him a short period of time during which he hopes to receive answers from his companions in arms, in order to appoint delegates to treat with the Delegates of General Huerta.