Imperial Valley press., 1913-12-19
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Haskin Letters
Mexico-Article No. 5
(By Frederic J. Haskin)

(By Frederic J. Haskin)
"All America cries out for settle
ment," wrote President Wilson in the
instructions prepared for John Lind's
confidential mission to Mexico. The
situation which had developed early in
August was described by the president
in his address to congress on Mexican
affairs:
"The whole world desires Mexico's
peace and progress, and the whole
world is interested as never before.
Mexico lies at last where all the world
looks on. Central America is about to
be touched by the great routes OF the
worlds trade and intercourse running
free from ocean to ocean at the 18TH
mus. The future has much in store
for Mexico, as for all states of Cen
trail America, but the best gifts can
come to her only if she be ready and
free to receive them and to enjoy
them honorably. America in partic-
ular-America north and south and
upon both continents-waits upon the
development of Mexico; and that de-
velopment can be sound and lasting
only if it be the product of a gen
uine freedom, just and ordered gov
ernment founded upon law.
"The present circumstances OF the
republic, deeply regret to say, do not
seem to promise even the foundations
of such peace. We have waited many
months-months full of peril and anxi-
ety-for the conditions there to i'm
prove, and they have not improved.
They have grown worse, rather. The
territory in some sort controlled by
the provisional authorities at Mexico
city has grown smaller, not larger.
Difficulties more and more entangle
those who claim to constitute the le-
gitimate government. War and dis
order, devastation and confusion, seem
to threaten to become the settled for
tune of the distracted country. AS
friends we could not longer wait for
solution which seemed every week
further away. 1t was our duty at least
to volunteer our good offices-tO offer
to assist, if we might, in effecting
some arrangement which would bring
relief and peace and set up uni
versally acknowledged political au-
thority there"
Lind's Proposals
Describing the United States as
Mexico's nearest friend" and empha-
sizing the fact that other govern
ments expected the United States to
act in that capacity, Mr.. Lind held
several conferences with Senior Gam
boa, the Mexican minister of foreign
relations, and was received by Provi-
sional President Huerta. AS basis
for composure of the difficulties he
laid, by direction of President Wilson,
these proposals before the Huerta
government:
"A-An immediate cessation of
fighting throughout Mexico, a definite
armistice solemniy entered into and
scupulously observed
"B-Security given for an early and
free election in which all will agree
to take part.
"C-The consent of General Huerta
to bind himself not to be candidate
for election as president of the repub-
lie at this election; and
"D-The agreement of all parties
to abide by the results of the election
and cooperate in the most loyal way
in organizing and supporting the new
administration"
These proposals were rejected.
President Wilson attributed their re-
lection to the belief of the Mexican
government that Mr.. Wilson was a
minority president" and that his
Mexican policy was probably not in
dorsed or supported by majority of
the American people.
The note refusing the proposals
was written by Senior Gamboa. In