File No. 812.00/12730.
[Untitled]
Washington, August 7, 1914.
When opportunity offers emphasize to Carranza the fact that unless political amnesty is assured there may be fighting in the City of Mexico and that this fighting and the deaths which may occur as a result would be difficult to justify when surrender has been offered upon the terms which are considered sufficient throughout the world. Officers could hardly be expected to surrender without some promise of protection in the form of guaranties as to their personal safety, especially in view of the treatment which some officers have received upon falling into the hands of the Constitutionalists. General Carranza ought to understand that this Government’s action in the matter of recognition of his government must depend in part upon the manner in which his authority is acquired.