File No. 812.00/13603.
Vice Consul Silliman to the Secretary of State.
The press yesterday published a proclamation by Carranza of about 4,000 words, replying to the Chihuahua proclamation of Villa.66 It charges Villa with insincerity— [Page 613]
- First, in glorifying the revolution of 1910 when he and his companion Orozco on May 13, 1911, attempted to destroy it at its beginning by arresting Madero himself.
- Second, in failing to turn over public utilities to the central authority after he had agreed to do so at the Torreon conference and in still retaining them without rendering any account.
- Third, in protesting against military trials of Mexicans while he himself has notoriously used military trials not only of Mexicans but also of foreigners.
- Fourth, in his apparent consideration for the Catholic clergy when he more than anyone else has been their greatest persecutor and is on record in a telegram of July 29 from Chihuahua approving the radical decree of General Villareal of the State of Nuevo Leon.
- Fifth, in pretending to represent the ideals of the revolution when he is surrounded and influenced by reactionaries.
- Sixth, insubordination in the matter of Zapata; bad faith in making reflections on the character of the convention called for October 1 at Mexico; great extravagance and dishonesty in maintaining his army and issuing paper money.
Carranza defends himself in changing the oath of public officials, forming his Cabinet, annexing to Yucatan of adjoining territory, suspending traffic in the north, and issuing paper money. Says he assumed the executive, legislative and judicial authorities of the Constitution because of the exigencies of the revolution, but only temporarily and in conformity with the Plan of Guadalupe.
The latter part of the proclamation is significant, radical; it confirms previous information furnished to the Department to the effect that the movement is essentially revolutionary. It criticizes as inopportune at present references to reestablishment of Constitutionalist Government and conciliation while the social and economic reforms demanded by the people and which can best be wrought by revolutionary measures remain unaccomplished.
It was said of the proclamation that Carranza was to express his views concerning the Convention, define his attitude and possibly make some reference to Vera Cruz; but not one of these points was mentioned.
- See Mr. Letcher’s September 30.↩