The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-02-18
TEXT OF SECRETARY'S
LETTER ON MEXICO

LETTER ON MEXICO
washington, Feb. 18-The text of
Secretary Lansing letter, transmit
ting the report on Mexico to the Presi-
dent, dated Feb. IL, 1916, follows:
THE resolution adopted by the
United States Senate on Jan. 6, 1916.
Incompatible with the public interest,
with documents, letters, reports, or
ders, ETC., relating to the Mexican sit
uation. having been referred by you
to the Department of State for report,
I have the honor to state, after earn
est consideration Of the request in
the light of such study as the depart
ment has given this subject for a per-
iod of several years, that I believe it
to be incompatible with the public in
terest to transmit to the Senate at the
present time the voluminous CORES
pondence called for by the resolution
between the Department of State and
the representatives of the United
States in Mexico, or that between this
department and representatives OF the
de facto government of Mexico. of
which General ". Carranza is the chief
executive.
In response, however, to the in
quiries made in the resolution, have
had prepared the following concise
statement, together with copies of GER
tain pertinent documents, which are
hereto appended:
81 The government at present ex-
isting in Mexico is a de facto govern
ment, established by military power,
which has definitely committed itself
to the holding of popular elections up
on the restoration of peace.
Recognition OF Carranza-
This de- facto government Of
Mexico. of which General " Carranza
is the Chief Executive, was recognized
by the government of the United
States on Oct. 10, 1915, and q copy of
the letter to Mr.. e. Arredondo, the
representative of the de facto gov
him OF such recognition, Is hereto APP
pended.
1.-The said de facto government has
since been recognized by substantially
all the countries of Latin America;
also by Great Britain, France, Italy,
Russia, Japan, Austria-Hungary, Ger
many and Spain, and several other
their intention of extending recogni-
ton. The said de facto government
is at present maintained at Queretaro.
near Mexico City.
1T cannot be said that the de fac
to government of Mexico is a constf-
tutionaI government. The de facto
government, like the majority Of revo-
1utionary governments, is of a military
Character, but, as already stated, that
government has committed itself to
the holding of elections, and it is con
fidently expected that the present gov
ernment will, within a reasonable
time. be merged in or succeeded by a
government organized under the Con-
stitution and laws Of Mexico.
Il
airy party became divided into factions
thereby delaying the pacjfcation of
the country. Meanwhile this govern.
ment took no action. hoping that these
factions would, by reunion, be able to
restore order. As this desirable re-
suit had not been achieved up to June
2, 1915. the Presidents statement Of
that date containing a warning to the
leaders of the factions was telegraph
ed to the American Consular officers
in Mexicot for circulation. A copy of
this statement is appended shereto.
Pan-Amerfcan Conferences.
Several weeks after the statement
was issued. as the factional differences
seemed to be no nearer to settlement,
this government sounded the six
ranking diplomatic representatives OF
Latin America as to whether they
would confer and advise with this
government in regard to formulating
some practicable plan, if possible, for
the solution of the Mexican problem.
Under instructions from their respect
i've governments these Representatives
signified their desire to cooperate
with this government, and the first
conference with the resentatives
was held on Aug. 8 last.
AS a result Of that conference the
Ambassadors of Argentina, Brazil and
Chile, the Ministers of Bolivia, Uru-
quay, and Guatemala, and the Secre-.
tary of State of the United States,
acting severaHy, signed an appeal to
the civil and military leaders Of the,
factions In Mexico sug-
costing that the latter hold a con-
ference to discuss a peaceful settle
ment of their differences, and offered
20 act as Intermediates to arrange
the time, place, and other details Of
such conference. Identical comm mi
cations in this sense were unde5 y ate
of Aug. 13 and IA last sent by te1e-
to all generals, governors and
other leaders known to be exercising
civil or military authority in Mexico.
A copy of this communication is ap-
pended.
1.-The attempt to bring the factions
together for a conference failed. Sub
stantially all the commanders and
others in authority who were asso-
ciated "a h General Villa replied di-
rectIy and independently in varied
language, accepting the suggestion
for a conference. On the other hand,
all the commanders and others in au-
thority who were affiliated with Gem