William B. Hale to William Jennings Bryan

Title

William B. Hale to William Jennings Bryan

Creator

Hale, William Bayard, 1869-1924

Identifier

WWP18174

Date

1913 November 15

Description

William B. Hale writes to William Jennings Bryan about Mexico.

Source

Wilson Papers, Library of Congress, Library of Congress, Washington, District of Columbia

Subject

Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924--Correspondence

Text

Secretary of State

BY CIPHER
Washington, DC
November 15, seven pm.

I feel I ought to say I am forced to the opinion that the Constitutionalists will be unswerving before suggestions that they parley with any Government whatever set up at Mexico City. They appreciate it highly that the thought of the United States Government has toward turned in their direction and they will be deeply grateful for permission to import munitions of war. But they are absolutely set on the total destruction of the old regime and their own unencumbered triumph. There is no limit to their detestation of the whole predatory aggregation at Mexico City, that is, not of Huerta alone, but of the interests which he has served. May I beg indulgence to suggest that while the elimination of Huerta might vindicate the policy of the Administration to some extent, it alone would go but a little way now to restore peace in Mexico. The Constitutionalists are totally irreconcilable toward the capitalistic and military elements which they hold would still be in power in the capital even with Huerta out of the Presidency. The Constitutionalists know their own minds perfectly, their programme is definite, their pertinacity is iintense and their prospects bright. Do they not thus constitute the most powerful, single factor in the whole problem and is not any attempted solution which forgets that fact certain to fail to give Mexico peace?

H A L E

Original Format

Letter

To

Bryan, William Jennings, 1860-1925

Files

http://resources.presidentwilson.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Temp00647.pdf

Citation

Hale, William Bayard, 1869-1924, “William B. Hale to William Jennings Bryan,” 1913 November 15, WWP18174, First Year Wilson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.