File No. 812.00/16109.
Acting Consular Agent Robinson, Oaxaca, to the Secretary
of State.
Vera Cruz,
September 1, 1915.
Sir: I have the honor to enclose a statement
covering the views and attitude of the State of Oaxaca in relation to
the note directed by you and the Plenipotentiaries of the Latin American
nations to the armed and contending factions in the Republic of
Mexico.
As the State of Oaxaca has been cut off from all mail and telegraphic
communication since June 5, no copy of the note was received, and the
first intimation of a note having been issued by the Powers was a
translation in “El Mexicano” published in Mexico City on August 18 which
was received in Oaxaca on the 23d. As I had nothing official to present
to the Oaxaca State Government, they could not reply to the note
officially; but at the request of Mr. José Inez Dávila, Governor of the
State, and of Mr. Guillermo Meixueriero, Commander of the State Forces,
after several conferences with
[Page 743]
them, the enclosed statement was drawn up and in conformity with their
wishes I am transmitting the same to you.
I am [etc.]
[Inclosure—Translation.]
Statement by the Government of the Free and
Sovereign State of Oaxaca.
In view of the note directed by the Secretary of State of the United
States of America and the Plenipotentiaries of the Latin American
nations to the chiefs of the armed and contending factions in the
Republic of Mexico, it is with justice that attention be called to
the State of Oaxaca in order to demonstrate that constitutional
order has not been destroyed in all of Mexico, but that there exists
one state in which the General Constitution of the Republic of
February 5, 1857, still rules and is maintained in most perfect
order with legislative, executive and judicial powers working in
their normal condition in conformity with the General Constitution
and in conformity with the local laws of the State.
The State of Oaxaca not having participated in the armed struggle
that has caused such havoc to the Republic, greatly laments the
unhappy condition of the country and, not believing it expedient to
form a new element or armed nucleus to reestablish order and peace
and because it considers it unpatriotic to give birth to a new
element of discord and division, has decided that the best manner of
serving the country is to try to conserve peace and constitutional
order. The Government of the State of Oaxaca has therefore not
antagonized anyone and when the Carranza faction tried to remove
constitutional order in some of the districts of the State and
clearly expressed their intention of dragging Oaxaca into disorder
and anarchy, the State of Oaxaca issued by Act of Congress the
Decree No. 14 on June 3, 1915, declaring that the State resume its
sovereignty and be ruled by the General Constitution of February 5,
1857, the Reform Laws, its local political constitution and other
State laws, until such time as peace and constitutional order should
be reestablished and a government instituted that would operate in
conformity with supreme constitutional precepts. In order to make
its sovereignty respected they count on sufficient armed element
composed of volunteers from all of the towns; all of the frontiers
of the State are garrisoned by forces to repel any invasion and in
the capitol and other towns of the Central District of the State
there are other forces stationed to assist at any moment, at any
point, when it may become necessary to defend the territory of the
State.
Should the Powers desire a meeting-place within the Mexican Republic
in which to hold the proposed conference, the capital of the State
of Oaxaca offers every facility because its Government is not a
belligerent faction but is working under constitutional precepts,
the reestablishment of which in the rest of the Republic is
precisely what is desired by the Powers that are interesting
themselves for the peace of Mexico.
As the text of the President’s note of June 3 and the note of the
Powers directed to the armed factions in Mexico intimated that they
desire that the Mexican people themselves should reflect on the
disasters of the armed contentions and should proceed to harmonize
and settle their own difficulties, supporting a man or group of men
who will reestablish order, it would be only justice to take into
consideration the correct attitude of the State of Oaxaca and give
its representatives a hearing in any arrangements for the
reorganization of the Mexican Union.
Oaxaca, Oaxaca,
Mexico, August 28,
1915.
