File No. 812.00/6353.
The American Ambassador to the Secretary of State.
Mexico, February 24, 1913—7 p.m.
35. I think we are on the eve of the procurement of peace, except perhaps in the districts immediately south of Mexico City, where the Government informed me they do not intend to negotiate but to suppress all disorders with a firm hand, sparing no violators of the law, and furnishing an immediate proof to the world of the stability and vigor of the present administration. I urge the Department to inform the American public of the friendly disposition of this Government toward the United States and of the activity which it is displaying in restoring order; also of the fact that one of the last acts of Madero was to send out telegrams to all the governors which amounted to an incitement against American residents in Mexico. The Secretary of the British Legation believes his Government will not recognize the Provisional Government on account of the murder of Madero. This would be a great error, endangering the present Government, upon which the safety of all foreigners depends. Mr. de la Barra informed me to-day that in a meeting which occurred at the palace immediately after the death of Madero he stated to the President that unless he were convinced that Madero had not been murdered with the connivance of the Government he would immediately resign with two of his colleagues. He added that he was convinced and that he had therefore given out the statement published by the Associated Press. I am disposed to accept the Government’s version of the affair and consider it a closed incident, in spite of all current rumors. The cooperation of the Department in this direction will be of infinite value.