File No. 812.00/18126
General Scott to the
Secretary of War
[Telegram]
El Paso,
[Not
dated, received at War
Department,
May 9, 1916, 6.35 p.m.]
19. Juan Amador came to the car this morning and brought the following
letter from Obregon and stated that Obregon would bring here at 5 p.m.
to-day his plan for safeguarding our border by both Governments. Amador
was invited not to allow any attack on General John J. Pershing’s troops
or permit any approach to his neighborhood by large forces from
direction of Torreon or Sonora through Pulpite Pass. This he promised to
prevent. He was told that such an attack would in all probability result
in the destruction of his Government. He replied that such a break not
to be thought of. He was assured that this is the feeling and hope of
our Government. This plan was reported yesterday and explained to third
party out of conference, contemplates immediate withdrawal of American
troops and a zone on each side of the border to be occupied by troops of
each nation on their own soil. This would mean immediate withdrawal of
our troops without guarantee that any promise would or could be carried
out, while continued occupation of Mexico is our only hold on Mexican
Government to insure fulfillment promise.
Letter follows:
[Page 547]
General Obregon
to General Scott
[Translation]
My dear General: Permit me to confirm our
conversation of yesterday in your special car, to the effect that my
Government has instructed me not to accept the memorandum that you
and I had formulated for the purpose of submission to the
consideration of our respective Governments, because said
arrangement not only would fail to satisfy the desires of the
American and Mexican Governments to solve the difficulties, but, on
the contrary, would produce new and greater difficulties, because
said memorandum does not set a fixed time for the retirement of the
troops and states one of the conditions ambiguously, with a note
which at the end says:* * * and the termination of the withdrawal of
the American forces will only fail of being carried to a conclusion
if there should occur in Mexico something which might tend to
demonstrate that such belief was without foundation. To accept this
clause would be equivalent to our Government sanctioning beforehand
the indefinite stay of the American army in our territory, should
there happen any incident not foreseen and for which the Mexican
Government should not be made responsible.
I am pleased, General, to reiterate to you assurances of my
distinguished consideration and sincere appreciation.
