File No. 812.00/15288.
Special Agent Silliman to the Secretary of State ad interim.
Department’s June 18, 7 p.m. Situation discussed with Carranza at noon yesterday. He began by reading paragraph from his own proclamation exhorting factions to submission. He was asked if he could go beyond this and invite leaders to conference to discuss differences with a view to agreement if submission could not be obtained. He replied that under no circumstances would he treat with Villa; that there was no expediency that could induce him to make any offer whatever; Villa and his associates must submit to military trial or leave the country. He appeared somewhat perplexed that the Government of the United States should be concerned for adjustment, conciliation common basis since any revolutionary Government established upon such theories would inevitably and necessarily [Page 719] soon be found to be disappointing, ineffective and fruitless. The intimation of possible recognition did not in the least affect his impassive face. He did not want recognition conditioned on conciliation. The determination of the United States to adopt any other measures than the recognition and support of the Constitutionalist cause would be a regrettable injustice and great calamity for two friendly nations. If the Government of the United States will maintain neutral attitude the Constitutionalist cause will subdue the opposition and win recognition. Late yesterday evening a memorandum was sent for transmission of which the following is a summary:
First. The Constitutionalists cannot unite with the factions represented by the rebel chiefs, Villa and Zapata. History furnishes no example in any age or any country of civil war terminating by the union of the contending parties. One or the other must triumph.
Second. There is a fundamental reason for the present structure; it is not a question as to personalism. Villa represents the reactionary tendency which, without having achieved the ideals of the revolution, reserves for some future time the reformation of the laws. On the other hand the Constitutionalists represent the revolutionary tendency which proposes to obtain the reforms needed by the people prior to the establishment of constitutional order. Any combination of the two will produce only a temporary peace which could only result in new conflict.
Third. The most practical and quickest way to stop the civil war in Mexico is the triumph of that party which best represents the desire of the people, which is best in its morale and in its administrative organization. That party is the Constitutionalist party and through its recent victories its final triumph is sure. Therefore, the other revolutionists should submit, disarming their forces.
Fourth. Proper amnesty will be decreed at the proper time. All those who take advantage of it yielding their arms and the exiles being permitted to return to work and not to strife.