812.00Sonora/71: Telegram

The Ambassador in Mexico ( Morrow ) to the Secretary of State

[Paraphrase]

59. Reference Department’s telegram No. 42 of March 5, 1 p.m. With respect to the specific requests of the Government of Mexico reported in my telegram 54, of March 4, 10 p.m., my comments are as follows:

During the past two days life in Mexico City has gone on as usual notwithstanding the fact that there have been wild rumors of various kinds with regard to the success of the revolution. Information obtained directly from General Calles is set forth in my telegram No. 60 March 5, 9 p.m.5 which follows. With respect to the military situation, the Military Attaché concurs with me that the information is reliable. Rebels roughly speaking have control of about 10,000 soldiers, which is about one-sixth of regular army of Mexico. Government will, in my opinion, be able to suppress the revolution unless there be further substantial defections. In the event that the present administration should fall, our troubles in the Republic of Mexico would have just begun. As regards the three rebel groups there is no unity of principle or of ambition among them. If the present Government should fall, it is almost certain that the quarrel would begin between the Aguirre group, the Escobar group, and the Sonora group. In that event, the situation would not be very dissimilar to the Villa-Carranza, Zapata period. With respect to request No. 2 of the Government of Mexico, as set out in my telegram No. 50, March 4, 4 p.m., I refrain from making any specific recommendations since the Department of State is more familiar with the precedents bearing on such action under international law than we are here in Mexico City. Respecting all four requests I recommend, however, as friendly action as the President feels justified in taking and at least action equivalent to that taken during the De la Huerta revolution. Such friendly action publicly and properly taken, will, in my opinion, go far to prevent further defections among political leaders and military leaders, especially among such men as Caraveo, the present Governor of Chihuahua, whose untarnished character is well disclosed by the revolution in the message transmitted by your telegram number 43, March 5, 3 p.m.5 While no specific request [Page 345] has yet been made by the Mexican Government to purchase munitions directly from the Government of the United States, they would like to be assured that they can make such purchases if they should deem it wise to do so. The American Military Attaché has been told that we may shortly expect that such a specific request will be made by the Mexican Government.

Morrow
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