File No. 812.404/85.
Father Kelley to the President.
My dear Mr. President: First of all I desire to thank you for the long and very satisfactory hearing of a few weeks ago, in which you gave me an opportunity of expressing the views of the exiled Bishops of Mexico and of the Board of Governors of the Catholic Church Extension Society on the Mexican situation. * * * I promised that I would commit to writing some of the most important points touched upon. I do this now, with very great pleasure. * * *
[Page 1020]The point that I particularly desired to make was that the troubles in Mexico go deeper down than those which affect the agrarian question; and that any remedy offered for Mexico must reach the root if the cure is to be permanent. * * * Economic and agrarian questions [during the last year] were only side issues; the great issue of Mexican politics was that of liberty of conscience. * * * The exiled Bishops of Mexico do not ask, nor do they want, American intervention. What they want is a simple guaranty of liberty of conscience. * * * From the beginning the entire Constitutionalist move was, through the influence of such men as General Antonio L. Villareal, made antireligious and persecuting. This condition is an old one in Mexico. * * * You know that under such conditions peace cannot exist. An arrangement may be arrived at now, but if the canker is not cured the arrangement cannot last. The Mexican question will come up again. * * * To me it seems the most logical thing that you, as a representative of the American people and as one who has sympathy for Mexico, should point out to her the radical difficulty, in a friendly and kindly manner. * * * If you insist upon liberty of conscience for Mexico, in all respects as it exists in the United States, you are on absolutely safe and solid ground. * * * Such a declaration is all that the Catholic people want; but less than that would promise nothing for the future welfare of Mexico.
It is my sincere conviction that you will find the parties of Mexico, with the exception of Carranza, perfectly willing to listen and accept your suggestion. The leaders I have seen in the United States are already convinced that the best interests of their country require that Mexico should cast off the fetters of anticlericalism and pattern its conduct toward religion after its northern neighbor. I think Villa now realizes the mistakes that were made, and Zapata has never persecuted the Church or murdered her clergy. I am well aware that nothing is to be expected of Carranza, not even respect to the United States which helped him to success. But I do believe that Villa could be reached, and I know positively that Mexican leaders in the United States are favorable. A strong declaration on your part of your own position would be the first step toward giving Mexico that real liberty which it has not had for fifty years. Indeed, Mr. President, the destinies of Mexico are in your hands. * * *
Faithfully yours,
President of The Catholic Church Extension Society.