File No. 312.11/5656.
The Brazilian Minister to Mexico to the Secretary of State.
404. I have been requested by a committee of American citizens to transmit to you the following:
The American residents of Mexico City and vicinity in general meeting at the American Club in this city have considered carefully your cablegram to the Brazilian Minister12 which reads, “attention is again called to the advice of the President that Americans leave Mexico until conditions become settled.”
In reply we feel it our duty to explain why Americans generally cannot leave.
When the first advice came from Washington four years ago13 many throughout the Republic left, some at complete sacrifice of work of years. The first revolution was victorious and many Americans returned. Another revolution occurred; the advice to leave was repeated and a second exodus took place with its inevitable hardships, losses and sacrifices.
Optimistic reports published in the United States afterwards brought many back to their abandoned homes and neglected business where these had not been destroyed. Third warning to leave which was still obeyed by increased numbers and greater sacrifice immediately after the American military occupation of Vera Cruz.
After the Huerta régime and on encouraging advices as to peace prospects in Mexico many individuals and families again came back to resume the work that had been perforce abandoned and the evacuation of Vera Cruz brought still more.
A fourth exodus of our people is now impossible considering the large number here and demoralized conditions of public order and transportation. Financial difficulties are also too great for the average family to leave again on a voyage of thousands of miles. The Mexican pesos have dropped from fifty cents American currency to thirteen cents during eight changes of the Supreme Power at the National Capital since the overthrow of Porfirio Diaz in 1911.
Thousands of Americans and other foreigners scattered throughout the country find it quite impossible to leave their all or abandon positions of trust in charge of properties or business of owners in the United States and elsewhere.
The Mexican political situation is more chaotic and helpless than ever. The foreigners of other nationalities, our neighbors and friends are now asking [Page 666] what course is open for them if conditions are such as to render it necessary for Americans to leave and they look to Americans for counsel.
All foreigners—Americans, Europeans and others—came here under treaty and international rights by which our persons and property were assured of the protection common to civilized countries. By subscribing to certain treaties and international rights the Government of the United States assumed an obligation toward Americans as its nationals to the end that our persons and property be respected according to the letter of the obligation and international compacts by which the Mexican Government expressly agreed to give guaranties to foreigners residing in Mexican territory. We are engaged in lawful and useful occupations. We respectfully ask from our Government effective guaranties of those rights and no more. We quote from the platform adopted by the National Democratic Convention, Baltimore, in 1912: “Every American citizen residing or having property in any foreign country is entitled to and must be given the full protection of the Government of the United States both for himself and family.”
If the foreigners should leave en masse it would be to repeat the late and sad experience of the Belgians. With many it means leave behind the savings and other interests of a lifetime and to arrive in United States or Europe virtually as charges upon public or friends. If all foreigners—business men, bankers, professionals—should leave at once it would cause paralyzing of what remains of the country’s commerce and industry. Innumerable business houses, banks, and factories would close entirely; mines still working would suspend; oil production would cease; many of the most important public service utilities could not operate and the general suffering already severe would vastly increase. It would throw many worthy Mexican employees out of work and force them to choose between starvation or joining some one of the warring factions or plundering bands. The great majority of the fifteen millions of Mexican people unarmed and generally passive are victims of violent deeds committed under the guise of revolution and are praying for an end to the reign of disorder, bloodshed, rapine and destruction into which the Madero revolution has degenerated.
Owing to rigid censorship of mails and [telegraph] we cannot communicate these facts to our relatives and friends in the United States, and we therefore request that you give this statement to the press.
- Of March 5, 5 p.m.↩
- For. Rel. 1911, pp. 438, 460; For. Rel. 1912, pp. 720, 731, 738, 813.↩