File No. 812.00/20690.
[Inclosure—Synopsis of the
Memorandum.]
[Untitled]
This memorandum, dated October 8, 1915, is signed by Miguel Diaz
Lombardo, General Felipe Angeles, General Roque Gonzalez Garza and
Enrique C. Llorente, Conventionist delegates.
The delegates state that they in no way compromise the dignity of
their country by their action, nor do they submit to Pan-American
nations any essential attributes of their national sovereignty.
President Wilson’s note to the Mexican people threatened
intervention, and Villa and Garza, Conventionist leaders, proposed
peace conferences to Carranza. A delegation was also sent to General
Gonzalez by Garza from Mexico City proposing an armistice, etc. Both
offers were rejected. Llorente in Washington endeavored to talk
peace with Carranza Agent Arredondo, but was rejected.
Carranza’s rejections, without doubt, prompted the holding of the
first Pan-American Conference, on August 14, with its offer of aid
and mediation. Conventionists were gratified, acquiesced in plan,
and appointed delegates who sign this memorandum.
The delegates were surprised by the declaration of Conference, on
September 18, that if it should be impossible to recognize a
Government from the agreement of all factions, then the de facto
Government seeking recognition must have material and moral capacity
to protect lives and properties of nationals and foreigners. This
changed plans to end revolution peaceably. As result of note of
August 14, military operations were practically suspended, as was an
attack on Monterey. The ends expected from policy in note of
September 18 will be very different from what it is expected to
attain.
It was practically impossible for one faction to establish within
three weeks a positive military supremacy over the other. Any
superiority was necessarily transitory. The Conventionists could
have advanced their whole army on capital or toward Saltillo and
Monterey, or sent out a number of flying columns, and thus sown
discord; but there is difference between such movements and
permanent superiority.
The Conventionists are in position to dominate the situation around
Mexico City and prevent entrance of Carranza forces to establish a
government. Numerous detachments of Conventionists in central
States; Durango, Sinaloa and Sonora partially controlled by them.
Great dissatisfaction against Carranza in Isthmus of Tehuantepec,
Tabasco, Campeche and Chiapas. Upon ejection of Huerta, Carranza was
asked by Villa and Obregon to assume provisional presidency and
establish government. He refused to accept the title and called a
meeting of generals appointed by himself. The convention assembled
in Aguascalientes and saw fit to remove Carranza from position as
First Chief and to recognize sovereignty of convention. Villa was
disposed to eliminate himself if Carranza withdrew, and is still
willing. He had withdrawn from active service but took the field
again, as his services were indispensable to Convention. Sovereignty
of Convention had been recognized by Carranza when he submitted his
resignation to it as First Chief.
Carranza cannot demonstrate that he controls as much territory as
General Diaz did in 1877 and 1878, when recognition was held up for
nearly eighteen months after Diaz had proclaimed himself Provisional
President. How can a military force occupying but a portion of the
Republic, headed by a First Chief without a government, be accorded
recognition as a de facto Government?
The delegates stand ready to furnish additional data if desired.
