Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, With the Address of the President to Congress December 5, 1916
File No. 312.11/8274
Vice Consul Blocker to the Secretary of State
Sir: * * * Enclosed is an original [manifesto] to the people of Mexico, signed by General Villa, at San Andres, Chihuahua, setting forth the platform of Villa and his colleagues.
It seems evident that General Murguia, the Government commander, successfully reached Chihuahua and wrested it from the hands of the bandits, but on the other hand he has left a wide strip of territory between Torreon, his former base, and the capital city of Chihuahua. It also seems that his advance north did not cover any territory except along the Mexican Central Railroad and the town of Parral is still under control of the bandits.
I have [etc.]
General Villa’s manifesto to the Nation
Fellow citizens: All peoples of the earth are capable at certain times of the greatest sacrifices when they see their national integrity threatened and when their rights as freemen are trampled under foot. We have a fine example of this in the titanic European conflict, and particularly in heroic Belgium, which, conscious of being one of the most civilized nations in Europe, went into this devastating war without the remotest hope of victory but with the consciousness of duty fulfilled, and succumbed when the greater part of its sons had disappeared among the ruins of Namur and Liège, when they fired their last cartridge in order not to have their beloved country encroached upon with impunity by the invader. Our own beloved country has also arrived at one of those solemn moments when, in order to oppose the unjustified invasion of our eternal enemies, the barbarians of the [Page 620] North, we ought to be united in imitation of the example of that host of valiant men who sacrificed their lives, calmly and smilingly, in behalf of the beloved country which gave us birth, of those Mexicans who astound Europe itself with their magnificent—[word cut out] and who became immortal by inscribing their glorious names in indelible characters on the pages of history. Unfortunately there can be no unification among us, for while it is true that our country has had patriotic and self-denying sons, it also has Carrancistas, who necessarily now govern the destinies of the country, which, impoverished, defenseless and manacled, was surrendered by them to the invader when there is no fortress to defend its already weakened frontiers. As an irrefutable proof of this there has been there, since March last, in the Galeana District the American army commanded by Pershing, it being engaged in constructing cement highways from beyond the Rio Grande to the Valley of San Buenaventura, which is at present the basis of operations of the abhorred Yankee, with the knowledge and tolerance of the Constitutionalist Government, which would like to establish ammunition factories in order to go on saturating the fertile fields of our country with the blood of its sons and thus facilitate the entrance of its allies and protectors into the interior of the Republic. Therefore, dear countrymen, the task which we must perform as Mexicans is very great and very arduous. I call upon you to take up arms in order to overthrow the most corrupt Government that we have had, these office holders Who, through their extreme radicalism and in order to perpetuate themselves in power and enrich themselves shamelessly, have covered themselves with ignominy, going so far in their sordid conduct as to criminally disregard the plaints and cries of our troubled country, which, in these times of anxiety, demands the cooperation of its sons in order to save it.
Victory will crown our efforts, do not doubt it, for just causes always triumph; and if destiny is adverse to us, we shall fall in the arena with our faces to the sky, similarly to the ancient gladiators; we shall fall with the crash of a volcano in eruption; we shall collapse as do the masses of granite under the impulse of seismic trepidations; we shall disappear proudly and haughtily, shouting in a chorus: “Beloved Country, thy sons swear they will expire on thy altars”.
And upon the traitors let fall the curse of history and the humiliating contempt of Mexicans, for on the morrow they will hurl at them the anathema of spurious sons of the race of Hidalgo and Morelos.
Intentionally and with the best of good faith did I remain inactive with my forces in the enticing and pleasant hope of seeing the activities of the so-called Constitutionalist Government in order to repel the invasion and attempt the unification of the Mexican people. Of course, the bitterest disappointment was not long in coming, for, so far from endeavoring to oust the invaders, they showed the most refined perversity in exploiting the gravity of international relations for their personal benefit and to the absolute detriment of honor; thus we have seen how forces that were armed for no other reason than to defend the territory were deceived and submitted perfidiously and maliciously; thus we have also seen how an infinite number of patriots who were eating the bitter bread of exile owing to the convulsions in their country, crossed the boundary line in order to enlist in the national defense, and thus we have seen how, without any scruple, many of them were interned in the dungeons of the penitentiary at the Capital of the State of Chihuahua, as a reward for their abnegation and patriotism.
As I do not see the slightest hope of a change of conduct on the part of the men in power in the country, I have the honor to state to the Mexican People that, from this time on, I shall push military operations as far as possible in order to overthrow the traitors and place at the head of the Government the citizen who, through his recognized honor and civic virtues, shall cause Mexico to figure in the catalogue of civilized and free peoples, which is the place legitimately belonging to her; for which purpose the following plan will be put into force from this date on, it being subject to additions and amendments and being applicable throughout the area controlled by the revolution:
I. The supreme disposition of the Revolutionary Government shall be to call the people to election for President of the Republic, making use of free suffrage without restrictions of any kind, in order that the people may conscientiously elect the Chief Magistrate of the nation, the military vote being included in the elections, as is strictly just; and those guilty of misconduct at the elections being punished by the death penalty.
[Page 621]II. Not one of the armed leaders or military officers shall be permitted to run for President, as the army is an institution whose rights and duties are clearly defined.
III. Elections shall also be called for Representatives to the Congress of the Union, in accordance with the instructions which will be distributed in due time in a separate pamphlet in order that the voters may be apprised of the importance of these elections if it is taken into account that these officials go to make up the legislative branch of the Government, to which is assigned the most ardent task of the Government, it being charged with restraining the acts of the President himself. In this connection it will be remarked that the public should select persons of well known culture and humble birth who will be capable of understanding the needs of society and especially of that numerous class who are suffering in penury and poverty, viz, the proletariat. Military men shall likewise be precluded from these offices.
IV. It being of vital importance that the Representatives and Senators of Congress should, as said before, be honorable persons who concern themselves for the welfare and progress of their constituents; they must not mix up in affairs beyond their sphere of jurisdiction, such as labors on behalf of concessions, etc., which may redound to their own benefit to the detriment of the public, under penalty of being shot, and when this painful example is set, the State they represent shall be notified in order that the vacancy may be filled by the substitute.
V. The defects of the laws governing the country being well known owing to the modifications or revisions which they have been undergoing in recent years, the President shall adhere to the reform laws in governing the country.
VI. The revised codes shall be annulled and the original ones put into force, we being convinced from practical experience that the changes they have undergone have merely served to satisfy the ambitions of a certain number of persons, to the detriment of the remainder of the inhabitants.
VII. From this date on the Revolutionary Army declares void the acts of the so-called Constitutionalist Government, in the way of loans, concessions, etc., with the exception of those which, on moral grounds and out of respect to society, are inviolable, such as marriages and other acts affecting civil status.
VIII. As the revolution, in order to attain the goal of its salutary aspirations, which are based on a clearly defined ideal tending toward the general improvement of the Republic, needs the resources of its own and outsiders for the national reconstruction, it will not answer for any debt, even though it be claimed by foreigners, who, being received in the country with so much hospitality, have, most of them, trebled their fortunes here; therefore it is just and logical that they should now suffer the consequences inherent to any country at war.
IX. From the date of this statement no foreigner shall be allowed to acquire real estate except such as have been naturalized 25 years ago and have resided continually in this country; however, for the time being, in order to meet the requirements of the war, all interests (property) of foreigners shall be confiscated in behalf of the nation. In future an essential prerequisite for acquiring real estate shall be to become naturalized as aforesaid, and such property may be acquired only in the interior of the Republic.
X. It being realized that the North Americans are in large part responsible for the national disaster and that, for absolutely illegitimate purposes they have stirred up and kept on stirring up fratricidal war in our country, as is amply proven by their unwarranted stay on our soil, they are hereby disqualified, the same as Chinese subjects, from acquiring for any purpose real estate as referred to in the preceding clause.
XI. The railroad lines, together with their equipment of every kind, shall be confiscated and become the absolute property of the Mexican Government, without foreign companies being taken into account as share holders.
XII. Mining property situated in this country and owned by foreigners shall likewise be confiscated and become national property.
XIII. In order to encourage the Mexican manufacturer and further the development of the industry of the country in general, all kinds of mercantile operations with the United States shall be suspended, it being hoped by this measure to awaken greater diligence in the Mexican workman as well as his ingenuity in seeking the greatest improvement in our national products.
Telegraph and railroad communications shall accordingly be cut off to within 18 leagues of the frontiers in the United States of the North.
[Page 622]This stretch of territory shall be garrisoned by the rural forces of the Republic.
XIV. It being an urgent and patriotic necessity that the military leaders operating in the various States of the Republic should require the Mexican people to militarize rapidly in order to be prepared as soon as possible for any emergency in the very probable and long struggle with the invader, they are urged especially to proceed with the greatest activity and energy in this direction; it being understood that every Mexican who refuses to take part in the conflict at this time of genuine trial, in which national autonomy is jeopardized, shall be declared a traitor and his property confiscated without claim for restitution.
XV. The military leaders shall act in accordance with the strictest morality in order that they may demand of their subordinates a good, beneficial military training which shall reflect brilliancy and renown upon the Revolutionary army. Any act in contravention to this provision shall be punished by the penalty of death, without distinction as to military rank.
XVI. In order to punish all those who make a bad use of power and in order to prevent future evils which might again desolate our country and carry sorrow into our homes, we shall proceed, by all means within reach, to request the extradition of Venustiano Carranza, his advisers and accomplices, in case they go abroad, and of the Government where they seek refuge we shall ask, through legal channels, that they return and give an account of their acts; and in case such Government should refuse our just demand, the subjects of the country in which they have sought refuge shall be without the guarantees which the laws grant to good citizens.
Fellow countrymen: Thus you now know my greatest desire, which I believe will be yours, for it is a question of exterminating the most odious and shameful tyranny that the land of Cuauhtemoc has had. To war against the traitors, crying: Mexico for the Mexicans.
San Andrés, Chih., October.
Commander in Chief