File No. 812.00/18097
Generals Scott and Funston to the Secretary of War
6. May 2. It has been impossible so far to accomplish satisfactorily diplomatic results meeting in a formal way before a hostile audience which General Obregon must satisfy and carry with him. So long as this condition existed such results have been despaired of. From time to time, however, mutual friends have gone to General Obregon privately, entirely unknown to each other and apparently independent of us, who have assured General Obregon of the complete sincerity of the President in his friendship for Mexico upon which he might implicitly rely. They have pointed out, coming entirely from themselves, the deplorable consequences of an attack upon our troops which could only result in destruction of his Government and loss of his country, of our intense personal desire to carry this through in a manner which will insure the welfare and dignity of both countries. This propaganda has now borne fruit in so far that a mutual friend, A. J. McQuatters, President Alvarado Mining Company, Parral, former employee of General H. L. Scott’s son at [Page 538] Parral, notified me last night that General Obregon had requested him to find out if he could meet General Scott privately and secretly in McQuatter’s room in hotel to discuss situation alone. This has been answered affirmatively with General Funston’s cordial approval and we are waiting now for notification of the time for meeting.
General Scott met General Obregon at the Paso del Norte hotel about 12 m May 2, with J. H. McQuatters, one interpreter, and one stenographer, only persons present during conference. An agreement was reached this morning after a continuous struggle of twelve hours duration which was not equaled by any similar struggle with the wildest and most exasperated Indian heretofore encountered. Conference was usually amicable throughout. Papers were drawn up in English and Spanish, agreed and disagreed to, changed again and again, hours being expended in apparent interminable argument on every subject, the main object being to have a time limit placed upon our stay in Mexico. This was amicably thwarted with great difficulty. McQuatters drew the papers in order to permit General Scott to keep General Obregon from going away and falling under hostile influence awaiting in hallway. The agreement is not altogether satisfactory but if circumstances are considered it will be recognized that it has not been easy to avert a war with Mexico which all believed was imminent. The agreement is submitted for approval. The President has it still in his hands for final determination and may yet reject it unsatisfactory. It is, however, the best that General Scott has been able to accomplish and is thought to be within the scope of instructions, inasmuch as President has announced that he does not desire American troops to stay in Mexico indefinitely and he has their rate of progress toward the border in his own hands. General Obregon has promised, in case of approval of agreement by both Governments, to withdraw his Sonora troops which threaten General Pershing’s line of communications west and away from Pulpite Pass and to granting use of the Casas Grandes railroad for transportation of food, forage and many other uses but excepting munitions of war. Obregon requests our stay here until both Governments are heard from to adjust differences if thought necessary. Will be done subject to the approval of the Department.
El Paso, Texas, May 2, 1916.
Memorandum of conference between General Alvaro Obregon, Secretary of War of the Republic of Mexico, Major General Hugh L. Scott, United States Army, and Major General Frederick Funston, United States Army, to which they all subscribe, and transmit to their respective Governments with their recommendations for approval.
In view of the fact that the American punitive expeditionary force destroyed or dispersed many of the lawless elements and bandits who committed the recent outrage upon American territorial officials at and near Columbus, N. M., or have driven them far into the interior of the Republic of Mexico, and in view of the further fact that [Page 539] the Constitutionalist Government declares to the United States Government that they are carrying on a vigorous pursuit of such small numbers of bandits or lawless elements as may have escaped, and in view further of the full assurance of the Constitutionalist Government that their forces are, at the present time, being augmented and strengthened to such an extent that they will be able to prevent any disorders occurring in Mexico that would in any way endanger American territorial officials, and in view of the further assurances of the Constitutional [sic] Government that they will continue to diligently pursue, capture or destroy any lawless bands or bandits that may still exist or hereafter exist in the Northern part of Mexico, the Government of the United States has decided to gradually withdraw the forces of the punitive expedition from Mexico, commencing the withdrawal immediately. In fact the American Government has already withdrawn small bodies of troops for a distance of proximately one hundred miles from most southerly point penetrated by them, in order to more conveniently supply the expeditionary forces with food and forage which are almost wholly lacking in that particular part of Mexico.
The Constitutional [sic] Government of Mexico will make proper distribution of such of its forces as may be necessary to prevent the possibility of invasion of American territory from Mexico.
The decision of the American Government to continue the gradual withdrawal of the troops of the punitive expedition from Mexico was inspired by the belief that the Mexican Government is now in a position and will omit no effort to prevent the recurrences of invasion of American territory and the completion of the withdrawal of American troops will only be prevented by occurrences arising in Mexico tending to prove that such belief was wrongly founded. The conferees representing both Governments express satisfaction at the friendly settlement of the questions discussed at the conference, and believe that this will solidify the good relations existing between their respective countries.
- Scott
- Funston