File No. 812.00/12970.

[Untitled]

I have the honor to transmit the following textual translation of a communication received by me last night:

Mexico, D. F., August 22, 1914.

I have the honor to inform you, in order that you may kindly bring it to the notice of His Excellency the President of the United States, Woodrow Wilson, that today, in conformity with the Plan of Guadalupe58 of March 26, 1913, I have assumed the Executive Authority of the Mexican Republic.

In asking you to notify your Government, it is a satisfaction to repeat the assurance of my distinguished consideration.

V. Carranza.

To Mr. John R. Silliman,
Special Representative of the Government of the United States.

Silliman
.
  1. The following is a translation of this plan or agreement:

    Plan of Guadalupe, signed by sixty-four officers of the troops of the State of Coahuila, on March 26, 1913.

    declaration to the nation.

    Whereas, General Victoriano Huerta—to whom Francisco I. Madero, Constitutional President of Mexico, entrusted the defense of the institutions and the legality of his Government—on uniting with the rebel enemies in arms opposing the same Government, to restore the former dictatorship, committed the crime of treason to reach power, by arresting the President and Vice President, as well as the members of the Cabinet, forcing them under duress to resign their posts, as shown by messages addressed by the same General Huerta to governors of the States, advising them that he had the Chief Executive of the Republic and the Cabinet as his prisoners; and,

    Whereas, the legislative and judicial powers have recognized and protected General Huerta and his illegal and anti-patriotic proceedings, contrary to constitutional laws and precepts; and,

    Whereas, several governors of States of the Republic have recognized the illegitimate government imposed by that part of the army which consummated the treason, headed by the aforesaid General Huerta, notwithstanding that the sovereignty of those very states, whose governors should have been the first to repudiate Huerta, had been violated—

    We, the undersigned, chiefs and officers commanding the Constitutional forces, have agreed upon, and will sustain with arms, the following

    plan.

    1.
    General Victoriano Huerta is hereby repudiated as President of the Republic.
    2.
    The Legislative and Judicial Powers of the Federation are also hereby disowned.
    3.
    The Governors of the States who still recognize the federal powers of the present administration shall be repudiated 30 days after the publication of this Plan.
    4.
    For the purpose of organizing the army which is to see that our aims are carried out, we name Venustiano Carranza, now Governor of the State of Coahuila, as First Chief of the army, which is to be called Constitutionalist Army.
    5.
    Upon the occupation of the City of Mexico by the Constitutionalist Army, the executive power shall be vested in Venustiano Carranza, its First Chief, or in the person who may substitute him in command.
    6.
    The Provisional Trustee of the Executive Power of the Republic shall convene general elections as soon as peace is restored, and will surrender the power to the citizen who is elected.

    The citizen who may act as First Chief of the Constitutionalist Army in the States whose governments may have recognized that of Huerta shall take charge of the provisional government and shall convene local elections, after the citizens elected to discharge the high powers of the federation have entered into the performance of their duties, as provided in the foregoing bases.