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

File No. 812.00/14794.

Special Agent Silliman to the Secretary of State.

[Telegram.]

Vera Cruz, April 5, 1915—5 p.m.

Referring to previous cablegram the following is a résumé of the conferences in regard to the neutralization of Mexico City and neutralization of the Mexican railroad or its return to the company.

Position of the Constitutionalist Government:

1. The Constitutionalists, not being in the possession of the City of Mexico, are unconcerned as to the situation there, unaffected by it and indisposed at this time to commit their Government to any future policy in the matter.

2. Therefore and for military operations and because neutralization is considered by them as otherwise impracticable, reference being made to the clash between the neutral police and the military in August last and to the guaranteed neutrality of Naco, the Constitutionalists further disinclined to consider at this time the neutralization of City of Mexico.

3. While regretting the isolation and any other inconveniences or sufferings afflicting the foreign residents of Mexico City, it must nevertheless be remembered in so far as Americans are concerned that they persist in remaining after the repeated recommendation of their own Government that they retire from the country and after the expressed wish of the Constitutionalists, in order solely to avoid the consequences, that they comply with such. The Constitutionalists are ready at any time to afford such facilities as they can to any foreigners who may desire to leave Mexico City. If they choose not to leave they must endure the same condition endured by our own nationals.

4. The Constitutionalists deem the operation of the Mexican railroad for the purpose and in the manner in which it is now operated of more consequence than an agreement to resume and to maintain communication with Mexico City and that the one precludes the other.

5. Under the Mexican laws the Constitutionalists claim the right, as an exigency of the revolution and as subject to future reclamation, to take possession of the Mexican railroad with all its belongings and appurtenances and to operate it both for military and for commercial purposes.

6. Any interference whatever with the Constitutionalists in the exercise of this right by one foreign power or by a combination of foreign powers would be considered as an act unfriendly to the Constitutionalists cause.

On the other hand:

1. For the reasons given and pending definite instruction to the contrary, the further discussion of the neutralization of Mexico City at this time is waived.

2. The argument for the return of the Mexican railroad to the company is understood to be in support of the representation made to the Constitutionalist Government by His Britannic Majesty’s Consul at Vera Cruz on the 29th day of March, 1915, in compliance with telegraphic instructions received by the Consul on that date from His Britannic Majesty’s Ambassador at Washington.

3. It is suggested that the military plans of the Constitutionalists would not necessarily suffer by the return of the railroad to the company, for the company has expressed its willingness [omission] the Constitutionalists in their military operations. It is claimed by the company that, being the owners of the road and its equipment, and its general manager and other employees being professionally fitted for the business of operating railway and their long service and experience with the company peculiarly fitting them for the operating of the particular railroad, the company is therefore as well qualified as, or possibly better qualified than the Constitutionalists themselves to give efficient continued service to the Constitutionalists in their military movements.

4. In the representation for resumption of communication it is not contemplated or expected that complete service can be rendered but only such daily service as will offer the least interference with the military operations of the Constitutionalists and subject in the territory that jurisdiction to such regulations as they may deem necessary, it being understood that the service will receive the same protection as if it were under the direct operation of the Constitutionalists themselves.

5. It is respectfully suggested that it is not to be presumed, regardless of the circumstances giving rise to the fact, that the Powers, in view of the fact that approximately 24,000 of their nationals, including their diplomatic representatives, are at present living in the City of Mexico, can look upon their isolation and other possible distressing afflictions except with the greatest concern and the greatest desire to relieve them.

6. It is respectfully suggested that it is not to be presumed that the Powers would be willing, in the [omission] of one, or more than one, of the contending parties to a lamentable civil strife in Mexico, to silently consent to an indefinite prolongation of the present isolation and other possible distressing afflictions which their nationals including their diplomatic representatives in the City of Mexico are now suffering.

7. In view of all the circumstances, in view of previous verbal and written representations, in view of the great desire of foreign governments that communication with the City of Mexico be resumed, in view of the future interests of the Constitutionalists themselves, it is most respectfully but most earnestly suggested that the Mexican railroad be returned to the company for operation, that permission be granted for daily communication with City of Mexico and that an early date be named for the resumption of the service.

Silliman.