File No. 812.00/6175.
The American Ambassador to the Secretary of State.
Mexico, February 15, 1913—7 p.m.
Referring to my February 14, midnight. In order to supplement the work done with Mr. Lascurain in our interview Friday morning [Feb. 14], I requested the British, German, and Spanish Ministers to come to the Embassy last night to consider situation and resolve upon some action. Conference lasted from 1 o’clock in the morning until nearly 3. The opinion of the assembled colleagues was unanimous and clear that we should at once, even without instructions, request President Madero to resign in order to save further bloodshed and possible international complications, the idea being that the Executive Power should be turned over to Congress. The Spanish Minister was designated to bear to the President our joint views, it being understood that his representations, while frank, were to be in the way of advice and supposedly unofficial. This morning he went to the palace and entered slightly in advance of 30 Senators, who had come on a similar mission. He went over the points which had been discussed the night before and stated the conclusion which had been reached, saying that it was our unanimous opinion that the President should resign. The President replied that he did not recognize the right of diplomats to interfere in a domestic question; that he was the Constitutional President of Mexico and his resignation would involve the country in chaos; that he would never resign, but if necessary would die in defense of his rights as the legally elected President. At this moment the arrival of the 30 Senators was announced with the statement that they were coming to ask for his resignation. He replied, “Tontería!” and, after a hurried conversation, vanished through one of the doors. When the Senators entered they were told that the President had gone with General Huerta to examine firing points, and the Senators were obliged to return without seeing him. It appears that the Senate had voted that President Madero be asked to resign by a vote of 27 to 3 of those present, which is a majority but not a quorum. After leaving the palace some of the Senators harangued the populace, asking them to support the Legislative Power and to prevent the impending intervention of the United States, which was being demanded by the European Powers.
[Page 712]Mr. Lascurain had worked very hard to bring this movement about, and the attitude of the President moved him so profoundly that he broke down and wept.
This morning a battery was sent to the block in which the Embassy is situated. The whole American colony, which is dependent on the Embassy for almost everything at this moment, became panic-stricken. I wrote a courteous note to Huerta asking him to remove the battery to another part of the city. He sent me a very courteous reply, saying that orders in compliance with my request had been issued, and that the battery had been removed.
The German Minister has come to tell me the Federals are now being maneuvered so as to fire over the foreign residential district against the citadel; also that the French school which I have filled with women and children had been filled with Federals, and that a battery had been stationed there. He asked me to join him in a visit to Huerta and we have asked for a cessation of firing at 3.30, when we will take up the question of a daily armistice and of a definite limitation of the firing zone.
There is no question of removing Americans to a safer place. There is no safe place, and many of those in the worst districts refuse to leave their homes. The work of placing Americans and that of other committees goes on well. We have a temporary cable and post office, first aid to the injured, rescue and housing work, and quarter for the volunteer guard, as well as a branch of the Banco de Comercio. Our only point of weakness is defense, wherein I have not been able to secure entirely satisfactory results, on account of obstacles which the Department will recognize.