File No. 812.00/6489.
The American Ambassador to the Secretary of State.
Mexico, March 3, 1913—7 p.m.
74. At a consultation with my British and German colleagues this morning, and with the approval of the entire Diplomatic Corps, it was agreed that at the conclusion of the reception of the Diplomatic Corps by Mr. de la Barra I should hand him the following memorandum:
The Diplomatic Corps has entered into communication with the Provisional Government without committing themselves in any way as regards formal recognition, which is left to their respective Governments to determine when such recognition shall be afforded.
This was done in order that no misinterpretation of our attitude toward this Government should be made and our attitude evidences that such was the case. Department will observe that it is worded in such a way as not to offend the sensibilities of this Government. It is understood between the Diplomatic Corps and Mr. de la Barra that this action was taken solely for our protection and not to be made public. The Brazilian, Norwegian, Chilean, and Austrian diplomatic representatives formally informed me this morning that in all matters of recognition of this Government their actions would accord with those of this Embassy. The other Latin-American representatives concur but have not formally stated their concurrence. The German and British Ministers also concur in this as in everything else. The Spanish Minister advises me that he intended to recommend the immediate formal recognition of this Government, but after learning the views of all of his colleagues he informed me that he would await the Embassy’s action; he, however, thinks that the Government should be recognized the moment it has clearly demonstrated its ability to maintain practical order and has satisfied the Department as to its intention to deal promptly and justly in the matter of our complaints.