William Jennings Bryan to Woodrow Wilson
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If you have read the newspaper report of Huerta’s speech you will, I am sure, be gratified at the promise which it gives of an early election. He says “The Mexican Government regards the pacification of the country as an urgent necessity in order to restore the public services to their normal state, to re-establish the political, social, and economic equilibrium, and to make possible a program of reforms which will satisfy the national aspiration.
“I will spare no effort and no sacrifice to obtain the coveted peace and to guarantee fully in the coming elections the free casting of the ballot.
“You may be sure it will constitute the greatest possible triumph for the interim government to surrender office to its successor, if the latter, as is to be expected, enters upon its functions with public peace and order an accomplished fact.”
The fact that no reference is made to his being a candidate, taken together with what he says in regard to the greatest triumph of the interim government being to surrender the office to his successor, and his promise of the free casting of the ballot -- these give ground for encouragement. The only offensive thing in his message is the suggestion that the relations between his Government and this Government are strained but that this does not apply to the people of the United States. However, we can stand language that is unfriendly if he will only do the things necessary for the restoration of peace.
The enclosed despatch from Lind shows that he places a favorable construction upon Huerta’s message. I would suggest a message to Lind something like the following. Please suggest any changes that you think will improve it:“Governor Lind,Amconsulate,Vera Cruz. Your telegram received. Your construction of the message agrees with ours. We feel encouraged, first by the fact that there is nothing in it to indicate a desire on his part to be a candidate; second, he promises free elections; and third, he will regard it as the greatest triumph of his Government to be able to turn it over to an elected successor. Your mission has been successful in very much relieving the situation and it seems likely that you will be called back to the Capital before the election. While it must be monotonous for you and your wife to remain in Vera Cruz, the President feels that there is so great a probability of your having further opportunity for service, in addition to your valuable reports, that he desires you to remain for the present and await further developments.
Bryan.”
Very sincerely yours,
WJ Bryan
The President,
The White House
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