Office of the Historian

File No. 812.404/110.

Father Kelley to the Secretary of State.

[Extract.]
Chicago, December 30, 1915.

My dear Mr. Lansing: I am sending you herewith enclosed the following documents72 on the Mexican troubles which I promised to have prepared for your files:

First. Decree issued by the Governor of Michoacan confiscating the property of Catholic priests. This decree was issued since the recognition of Carranza. Attached to this are some notes prepared by a Mexican.

Second. Extract from the sworn statement of Sister Elisa Maria del Salvador regarding the outrages against nuns.

Third. Affidavit given to me by an American citizen concerning the outrages against nuns.

Fourth. Extracts from private letters concerning the violations of the religious liberty pledge since recognition.

I am also sending you by registered mail a copy of “The Book of Red and Yellow” containing other affidavits and statements.

* * * You were good enough to ask what could be done by the Administration, and I promised to think the matter over and give you my ideas on the subject. Something can be done that would relieve the situation very materially. * * * If you can secure from the Carranza Government the following, I believe that criticisms will be turned into a great deal of satisfaction:

First. A formal invitation from the Carranza Government to all the expatriated Mexican bishops and clergy to return to their posts of duty, with absolute guaranty of safety and immunity from persecution and also prosecution. (N. B. I emphasize the word “prosecution” because if this invitation is not unconditional, drumhead courtsmartial and trumped-up charges imperil the lives of the bishops.)

Second. The return of all the churches and all church property to their former uses.

Third. The guaranty that there shall be no restrictions on the rights of citizenship of the clergy as given by the Constitution.

Fourth. A guaranty that all the clergy of all religious denominations shall be afforded the protection of the law as it is on the books of the Republic.

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I am sure you will find nothing unreasonable in these suggestions. It would be hard to ask for less, since it is only asking for what the laws of Mexico guarantee.

Faithfully yours,

Francis C. Kelley,
President of the Catholic Church Extension Society of the United States of America.
  1. Not printed.↩