William B. Hale to William Jennings Bryan

Title

William B. Hale to William Jennings Bryan

Creator

Hale, William Bayard, 1869-1924

Identifier

WWP18176

Date

1913 November 16

Source

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

Subject

Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924--Correspondence

Text

McKCIPHER

Nogales, Arizona.
November 16, 1913.
Recd Nov. 17, 8:49 a. m.
Secretary of State,
Washington.

Following is the declaration made by Carranza in response to your communication. It was originally made ex tempore but has been under revision for several days. In addition they are, I believe, preparing a formal, written reply. In all this there is a considerable element of gallery play. These documents bring in large part designed to make a record for home consumption. Carranza, First Chief of the Constitutionalists, declared that: He considered the determination which the Government of the United States contemplated relative to the passing of arms and munitions as an act of justice. This same act, besides being just, would arouse a wave of sympathy not only on the part of the Constitutionalists who are actually in arms, but of all the Mexican people who favor the cause which he represents. If, at this moment, the struggle appears to be undetermined it is because the Constitutionalists have not been able to arm themselves as they desiree since the Constitutionalist movement is sustained by the great majority of the Nation. This would be seen by the greatly hastened triumph over the usurper and the prompt and secure peace that would follow the free passage of arms. He has always followed the policy of respecting the lives and property of foreigners having publicly declared this on divers occasions. His orders in this respect have been obeyed by all the chifs chiefs except in those cases in which, because of the interruption of communisation or because of the great distances which separate military operations, these orders have not been received or have not arrived in time. But these difficulties are going to be corrected promptly as the Constuittutionalist forces consummate their triumph and restore communication. The aforesaid policy of respecting the lives and interests of (#) ought to be extended to these foreigners who observe a conduct (characteristic) of such and not to those who take a material part in the present struggle or who intervene in it in any manner. With regard to (the possibility) that the United States might under certain circumstances believe itself obliged to intervene, Mr. Carranza delivered himself as follows: In no case and for no motive should this hypothesis, inconceivable to the Constitutionalists, be even considered; it should not be considered either by the United States alone or by them in accord with any European Powers. Moreover, the rancor and resentment which existed between us for so long a time following the war of 1848 and which have been gradually giving away to a friendly and cordial relations between the two neighboring Republics teach that it would be very lamentable even to discuss a question which would result only in kindling a fire that is extinguished and which would surely carry us to an ending struggle. The whole responsibility would rest upon the United States if upon the ground of protecting the interests of foreigners they should arrttempt an act of this dsort, because no one denies that European interests are very much smaller than those possessed by the United States in our country.

H A L E

Original Format

Letter

To

Bryan, William Jennings, 1860-1925

Files

http://resources.presidentwilson.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Temp00649.pdf

Citation

Hale, William Bayard, 1869-1924, “William B. Hale to William Jennings Bryan,” 1913 November 16, WWP18176, First Year Wilson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.