File No. 812.00/13327.
Mr. Belt64 to the Secretary of State.
[Telegram.]
Mexico,
September 29, 1914.
The following seven salient points constitute Carranza’s answer to the demand by Villa’s generals for his resignation:
- 1.
- (Resignation.) I have no other desire, than to leave as soon as possible the two higher charges which the beloved people of the Republic have conferred on me.
- 2.
- (Depository of power). But in view of the fact that the deposit given into my hands by the Constitutionalist Party is so sacred, I believe that when I withdraw it is my absolute duty to give back said deposit into the hands of those who gave it to me, and those are the highest chiefs of the Constitutionalist Army, among whom may be counted the chiefs whom I am now addressing.
- 3.
- (Purpose of the convention.) With this object and with the object of treating and solving all affairs of public interest, I convoked a convention for October 1 at which all the generals of the States should designate a new depository as trustee for the high authority with which I am invested.
- 4.
- (Complete representation requested.) If when this convention takes place a few of the chiefs should not take part in it [or] should not be present, then the convention will take care to call them and tell them to be present in person or through representatives.
- 5.
- (Resignation of Villa.) As the solicitude to which I refer arises from the insubordination and disobedience of General Villa in disavowing me as First Chief of the Constitutionalist Army in charge of the Executive Power, it is my view that in order to be absolutely impartial—as I do not know that you have used your influence to bring back General Villa to fulfillment of his duty—you ought first to require from General Villa relinquishment of the command of the Northern Division and his retirement to private life, the same as you request of me.
- 6.
- (Fulfillment of designated duty.) If the chiefs for whom I will withdraw in the convention of October 1 accept this withdrawal, I will retire with pleasure and satisfaction to private life, with the consciousness of having complied with my duty as a citizen, as Governor of the State of Coalyiila, as First Chief of the Constitutionalist Army and as Encargado of the Executive Power of the nation.
- 7.
- (Resistance against reaction.) But if my resignation is not accepted, with the same firmness of mind and the same energy with which I fought the usurpation of General Huerta, I will fight the reaction which is showing itself led by General Villa, the perhaps unconscious instrument of Porfirism and Cientificism.
Belt
.- Representing Vice Consul Silliman during the latter’s absence in Washington.↩