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The Commoner
VOL. 33, NO. o0
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The Commoner
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Address all communications to
THE COMMONER, Lincoln, Neb.
viser. This is our immemorial relation towards
her. There is nowhere any serious question
that we have the moral right in tho case or that
wo are acting in the interest of a fair settle
ment and of good government, not for tho pro
motion of some selfish interest of our own. If
further motive were necessary than our' own
good will towards a sister republic and our own
deep concern to see peace and order prevail in
Contral America, this consent of mankind to
what wo are attempting, this attitude of the
great nations of the world towards what we may
attempt in dealing with this distressed people
at our doors, should make us feel the more
solemnly bound to go to the utmost length of
patience and forbearance in this painful and
anxious business. The steady pressure of moral
force will before many days break tho barriers
of pride and prejudice down, and we shall
triumph as Mexico's friends sooner than we
could triumph as her enemies and how much
more handsomely, with how much higher and
finer satisfactions of conscience and of honor!
REPLY OF SENOR GAMBOA
The following is the reply of Senor Gamboa
to proposals of the American government" con
veyed through Hon. John Lind:
Mexico, August 10, 1913. Sir: On the 6th,
instant, pursuant to telegraphic instructions
from his government, the charge d'affaires ad
interim of the United States of America verb
ally informed Mr. Manuel Garza Aldape, then
in charge of the department of foreign affairs,
of your expected arrival in this republic with
a mission of peace. As fortunately neither
then nor today has there existed a state of war
between tho United States of America and the
United Mexican States, my government was very
much surprised to learn that your mission near
us should be referred to as one of peace. This
brought forth tho essential condition which my
government ventured to demand in its unnum
bered note of tho 6th instant addressed to the
aforesaid charge d'affaires "that if you do
not see fit to properly establish your official
character" your sojourn could not be pleasing
to us according to the meaning which diplomatic
usage gives to this word.
Fortunately, from the first interview I had
the pleasure to have with you, your character
as confidential agent of your government was
fully established, inasmuch as the letter you
had the kindness to show me, though imper
sonally addressed, was signed by the president
of the United States, for whom wo entertain
the" highest respect.
It is not essential at this time, Mr. Confiden
tial Agent, that I should recall the whole of our
first conversation. I will say, however, that I
found you to bo a well-informed man and ani
mated by tho sincorest wishes that the unfor-
. tunate tension or the present relations betwpon
your government and mine should reach a
prompt ana sausiactory solution.
During our second interview, which, like the
first one of the 14th instant, was held at my
private (omission), you saw fit, after all intent,
honest and frank exchange of opinion concern
ing tho attitudes of our respective governments
which did not lead us to any decision, to deliver
to' mo the note containing tho instructions, also
signed by the president of tho United States.
Duly authorized by the president of the republic,
pursuant to the unanimous approval of the cabi
net, which was convened for the purpose, I have
tho honor to make a detailed reply to such in
structions. Tho government of Mexico has paid due atten
tion to the advice and considerations expressed
by the government of the United States; has
done this on account of three principal reasons:
First, because, as stated before, Mexico enter
tains the highest respect for the personality of
His Excellency Woodrow Wilson; second, be
cause certain European and American govern
ments, with which Mexico cultivates the closest
relations of international amity, having in a
most delicate, respectful way, highly gratifying
to us, made use of their good offices to the end
that Mexico should acdord you a hearing, inas
much as you were the bearer of a private mis
sion from tho president of the United States;
and, third, because Mexico was anxious, not so
much to justify its attitude before the inhabi
tants of the republic in the present emergency,
the great majority of whom and by means of
imposing and orderly manifestations, have
signified their adhesion and approval, as to
demonstrate in every way the justice of its
cause.
Tho imputation contained in the first para
graph of your instructions that no progress has
been made toward establishing in the capital
of Mexico a government that may enjoy the
respect and obedience of the Mexican people is
mfounded. In contradiction with their gross
imputation, which is not supported by any
proofs, principally because there are none, it
affords me pleasure to refer, Mr. Confidential
Agent, to the following facts which abound in
evidence and which to a certain extent must
be known to you by direct observation. The
Mexican republic, Mr. Confidential Agent, is
formed by twenty-seven states, three territories,
and ono federal district, in which the supreme
power of the republic has its seat. Of these
twenty-seven states, eighteen of them, the three
territories, and the federal district (making a
total of twenty-two political entities) are under
the absolute control of the present government,
which, aside from the above, exercises its
authority over almost every port in the republic
and consequently over tho customhouses therein
established. Its southern frontier is open and
at peace. Moreover, my government has an
army of 80,000 men in the field with no .other
purpose than to insure complete peace in tho
republic, the only national aspiration and solemn
promise of the present provisional president.
The above is sufficient to exclude any doubt that
my government is worthy of the respect and
obedience of 'the Mexican people, because the
latter's consideration has been gained at the
cost of the greatest sacrifice and in spite of
tho most evil influences.
My government fails to understand what the
government of the United States of America
means by saying that it does not find itself in
the same case with reference to the other na
tions of the earth concerning what is happen
ing and is likely to happen in Mexico. The
conditions of Mexico at the present time are un
fortunately neither doubtful nor secret; it is
afflicted with an intornal strife which has been
raging almost three years, and which I can only
classify in these lines as a fundamental mis
take. With reference to what might happen
in Mexico neither you, Mr. Confidential Agent,
nor I nor anyone else can prognosticate, be
cause no assertion is possible on incidents
which have not occurred. On tho other hand,
my government greatly appreciates the good'
offices tendered to it by the government of tho
United States of America in the present cir
cumstances; it recognizes that they are in
spired by tho noble dosire to act as a friend as
well as by tho wishes of all the other govern
ments which expect the United States to act as
Mexico's nearest friend. But if such good
offices are to bo of tho character of those now
tendered to us we should have to decline them
in the most categorical and definite manner.
Inasmuch as tho government of the United
States is willing to act in the most disinterested
friendship, it will be difficult for it to find a
more propitious opportunity than tho follow
ing: If it should only watch that no material
and monetary assistance Is given to rebels who
find refuge, conspire, and provide themselves
with arms and food on the other sido of n,
border; if it should demand from its niinoi nnd
local authorities the strictest observance of tho
neutrality laws, I assure you, Mr. Confldentiii
Agent, that the complete pacification of thia
republic would be accomplished within a rela
tively short time.
I intentionally abstain from replying to tho
allusion that it is the purpose of the United
States of America to show tho greatest respect
for the sovereignty and independence of Mexico
because, Mr. Confidential Agent, there are mat
ters which not even from the standpoint of the
idea itself could be given an answer in writing
His Excellency, Mr. Wilson, is laboring under
a serious delusion when he declares that the
present situation of Mexico is incompatible with
the compliance of her international obligations
with the development of its own civilization,'
and with the required maintenance of certain
political and economical conditions tolerable in
Central America. Strongly backing that there
is a mistake, because to this date no charge
has been made by any foreign government accus
ing us of the above lack of compliance, wo are
punctually meeting all of our credits; we are
still maintaining diplomatic missions cordially
accepted in almost all the countries of the world,
and we continue to be invited to all kinds of
international congresses and conferences. With
regard to our interior development, the follow
ing proof is sufficient, to wit, a contract has just
been signed with Belgian capitalists which
means to Mexico the construction of something
like 5,000 kilometers of railway. In conclusion,
we fail to see the evil results, which are pre
judicial only to ourselves, felt in Central
America by our present domestic war. In one
thing I do agree with you, Mr. Confidential
Agent, and it is that the whole of America is
clamoring for a prompt solution of our dis
turbances, this being a very natural sentiment
if it is borne in mind that a country which was
prosperous only yesterday has been suddenly
caused to suffer a great internal misfortune.
Consequently Mexico can not for one moment
take into consideration the four conditions
which His Excellency Mr. Wilson has been
pleased to propose through your honorable and
worthy channel. I must give you the reasons
for it: An immediate suspension of the struggle
in Mexico, a definite armistice "solemnly con
structed and scrupulously observed" is not pos
sible, as to do this it would be necessary that
there should be some one capable of proposing
it without causing a profound offense to civili
zation, to the many bandits who, under this or
that pretext, are marauding toward the south
and committing, the most outrageous depreda
tions; and I know of no country in the world,
the United States included, which may have
ever dared to enter into agreement or to pro
pose an armistice to individuals who, perhaps
on account of a physiological accident, can he
found all over the world beyond the pale oi
the divine and human laws. Bandits, Mr. Con
fidential Agent, are not admitted to armist ce;
the first action-against them is one of correction,
and when this, unfortunately, fails, their lives
must be severed for the sake of the biological
and fundamental principle then the useful
sprouts should grow and fructify
With reference to the rebels who style them
selves "constitutionalists," one of the represen
tatives of whom has been given an ear by mem
bers of the United States' senate, what couiu
there be more gratifying to us than if convlnceci
of the precipice to which we are being draggea
by the resentment of their defeat, in a moment
of reaction they would depose their rancor ana
add their strength to ours, so that all together
we would undertake the great and urgent tasK
of national reconstruction? Unfortunately tney
do not avail themselves of the amnesty law en
acted by the provisional government immedi
ately after its inauguration, but on the contrary,
well-known rebels holding elective positions in
the capital of the" republic or profitable employ
ments, left tho country without molestation, not
withstanding the information which the govern
ment had that they were going to foreign Janu
to work against its interests, many of wnoju
have taken upon themselves the nf0tu?f,;8
task of exposing the mysteries and inQmnL
from which wo are suffering, the same as auj
other human congregations.
Were we to agree with them to the arniisce
suggested, they would, ipso facto, recognw
their belligerency, and thls-is something wnij
can not be done for many reasons wnicn
not escape the perspicacity of the Boyernmeni
tho United States of America, which to this au,
and publicly, at least, has classed them as rt
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