Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, With the Address of the President to Congress December 7, 1915

File No. 812.404/101.

The Confidential Agent of the Constitutionalist Government to the Secretary of State.

Washington, October 8, 1915.

My dear Mr. Lansing: Complying with your excellency’s request⁸⁶ asking me what is the attitude of the Constitutionalist Government in regard to the Catholic Church in Mexico, I have the honor to say that inasmuch as the reestablishment of peace within order and law is the purpose of the Government of Mr. Venustiano Carranza, to the end that all the inhabitants of Mexico without exception, whether nationals or foreigners, may equally enjoy the benefits of true justice and hence take interest in cooperating to the support of the Government, the Laws of Reform, which guarantee individual freedom of worship according to everyone’s conscience, shall be strictly observed. Therefore the Constitutionalist Government will respect everybody’s life, property and religious beliefs, without other limitation than the preservation of public order and the observance of the institutions in accordance with the laws in force and the Constitution of the Republic.

Hoping that I may have honored your excellency’s wishes, I avail [etc.]

E. Arredondo.

86. Oral.