File No. 812.00/9367.
The American Chargé
d’Affaires to the Secretary of
State.
No. 2093.]
American Embassy,
Mexico,
October 14, 1913.
Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith for
the Department’s information, a clipping from the Mexican Herald of
October 11, 1913, in regard to the dissolution of the Mexican
Congress.
I have [etc.]
[Inclosure—Extracts.]
[Untitled]
The Mexican Herald, October 11, 1913.
executive decree explains necessity for radical
step.
[Extract from Decree of October 10.]
Victoriano Huerta, Constitutional President ad interim of the United
Mexican States, to their inhabitants, know ye:
That in view of the grave and exceptional circumstances through which
the nation is passing, and
Considering [etc.—a long arraignment of the Congress.]
For these reasons I have seen fit to issue the following decree:
- Article 1. The Chambers of Deputies and Senators of the
Twenty-sixth Congress of the Union are declared dissolved
from this moment and inhabilitated to perform their
functions. In consequence any acts or dispositions of said
legislative body will be null and can not receive the
sanction of the Executive Power of the United Mexican
States.
- Article 2. The Mexican people is hereby convoked to
extraordinary elections for Deputies and Senators of the
Congress of the Union. These elections shall take place on
the 26th day of the present month, and the territorial
division made for the extraordinary elections for President
and Vice President of the Republic, which are to take place
on the same date, will also serve for these.
- [Articles 3, 4, 5 and 6 deal with the details of the
election.]
Wherefore I order that this be published [etc.]
Given at the National Palace, October 10, 1913.
V. Huerta.
proclamation to nation issued by president
victoriano huerta.
[Extract.]
Mexicans:
One of the greatest sacrifices that I have been obliged to make is
the issuance of the decree which has as its purpose the dissolution
of the Legislative Power, which I always have treated with the
greatest respect.
[Arraignment of the Congress.]
When I received a communication from the Chamber of Deputies1 threatening the Executive and invading the
constitutional faculties of the other Powers,
[Page 841]
I sent the Minister of Gobernación to
ask that that body reconsider its resolutions. All was in vain. The
reserves of prudence and order being exhausted, I was forced to
decide upon the dissolution of the Legislative Power in order that
the voting public, satiated with the anguish of a long civil war,
may send to the national representative body citizens whose only
zeal, whose only ideal, is the reconstruction of the fatherland upon
a solid foundation of public peace.
president dissolves congress and calls for new
elections.
[Extract from news item.]
The Lower House of Congress was dissolved by force of arms yesterday
afternoon, the Liberal and Ilenovador members being arrested and
sent to the penitentiary by order of President Victoriano Huerta.
Minister Garza Aldape of the Department of Gobernación attempted to
persuade the Deputies to retract their action of Thursday but failed
and then ordered the arrests made.
After a committee of Senators had conferred with the President and
the Upper House had been fully informed of the happenings in the
associate assembly, it adjourned without date. A record of the
events leading up to the dissolution was drawn up and signed by the
Senators.
None of the members of the Upper House was arrested and it was stated
last night that President Huerta had assured them that the Deputies
under arrest would be treated with due consideration.
