File No. 812.00/9442.
The American Ambassador to Great Britain to the Secretary of State.
London, October 28, 1913.
94. Your October 24, 6 p.m. Sir Edward Grey has shown me a telegram to Garden about Huerta’s reported boast that he would have the backing of London, Paris and Berlin against the United States, in which Grey advised Carden that the British policy should be to keep aloof from Huerta’s boasts and plans. Carden denies that Huerta made such boast in his statement to the Diplomatic Corps. Grey wishes the President to know about these telegrams.
Grey asked: In case the British Government should withdraw recognition of Huerta, what would happen? I replied: “In my own opinion he would soon collapse.” Grey said: “What would happen then? Worse chaos?” I said: “That is impossible. There is no worse chaos than deputies in jail, dictatorial doubling of the tariff, suppression of opinion and practical banishment of independent men. If Huerta fell, there was hope that suppressed men and opinion would set up a successful government.” He asked: “Suppose that fails, what then?” I replied that in case of continued and utter failure the United States might feel obliged to repeat its dealings with Cuba, and that continued excitement of opinion in the United; States might precipitate this. Grey replied that he wished time to think the matter out and that he was glad to await the President’s communication.