File No. 812.00/6472.
The American Consul at Saltillo to the Secretary of State.
Saltillo, February 21, 1913.
Sir: I have the honor to confirm my telegraphic despatch of today, as follows:
February 21, 1 p.m. Governor Carrauza has just announced to me officially that he will conform with the new administration at Mexico City. All opposition were abandoned. Railroads will be opened at once. Perfect quiet prevails.
Early in the day a call was made upon Governor Carranza to ascertain if there had been any change in his attitude toward the new administration. He vigorously maintained his attitude of opposition on the alleged ground of the unconstitutional deposition of President Madero.1 He requested that I advise the American Government that his opposition meant a revolution of far more import than the country had previously experienced. As the Governor is a man of force and of no mean ability his position was to be taken seriously. Governor Carranza is one of Mexico’s ablest officials, and I believe a man of strict integrity.
The trains for Monterey and Piedras Negras were not permitted to leave Saltillo this morning. The Governor further said that no trains would be allowed to move in any direction without his special order. To this I verbally protested on the ground that American citizens must not be cut off from exit from the country. I insisted further that the main line of the National Railroad must be opened to Vanegas in order that marooned Americans could leave that part of the country. This he positively and emphatically declined to do, but proposed that he furnish me such special trains from Saltillo under military escort to Eagle Pass at such times as I should request. My interview with Governor was held at the National Telegraph office, where I found him personally in charge. He informed me that he had taken charge of all federal offices in Saltillo for the time and had instructed the officials to report to him.
After this interview I had a conference with the British Vice Consul about affairs of mutual interest to our respective countries. In a short while we called into the conference citizens of other countries. After some discussion it was decided that a special train for Eagle Pass should be requested of the Governor for nine o’clock the next morning and that all foreigners should be notified. As an engagement between the opposing forces appeared to be at least 48 hours off this would give ample time for those who wished to do so to get out of the way and across the border.
With the assistance of the Vice Consul, Mr. Silliman, all Americans were promptly given notice to assemble at the American Consulate at [Page 728] 2 p.m. today. In the meantime alarm had spread to the Mexicans and the business men became interested and sent a committee to see the Governor and to inform him that he did not have the support of the people in his attitude.
Promptly at 12 o’clock the Governor sent for me, stating that he had special information which he wanted to communicate to me immediately. Within a few minutes I was at the palace and received personally the Governor’s announcement. He stated that he had completely changed his attitude as he had received a telegram from General Huerta to the effect that the resignations of President Madera and Vice President Suárez had been properly presented to the Mexican Congress and had been duly accepted. That he had raised opposition to the new administration was due to the unconstitutional deposition of the President, so he stated; and that as his cause for opposition had been removed he felt it his duty to accept and support General Huerta.
Within an hour the news had percolated through the entire city. The news was telegraphed to the towns within the State. The meeting of Americans at the Consulate was called off, the special train abandoned and the city has apparently settled down to peace and quiet.
I have [etc.]
- Compare this with the last paragraph but one of this despatch. The telegram quoted above relates to the latter.↩