The United States and the Mexican Revolution: “A Danger for All Latin American Countries,” Letters from Venustiano Carranza

In 1911, Mexicans overthrew a long-standing dictator and brought Francisco I. Madero to power. Two years later, a new repressive dictator, General Victoriano Huerta, deposed and murdered Madero. The Constitutionalists, led in part by liberal reformer VenustianoCarranza, undertook an armed revolt against Huerta’s rule. When President Woodrow Wilson took office in 1913, he refused to recognize Huerta’s counterrevolutionary government. Moreover, using the slim pretext of a minor insult to the U.S. Navy, Wilson sent troops into Vera Cruz, Mexico, in April 1914. Wilson’s strategy—to force Huerta out and gain the support of Venustiano Carranza—backfired, however, and anti-U.S. sentiment erupted throughout Mexico. Carranza wrote the following letters, printed in major Mexican newspapers, to the presidents of Argentina, Brazil, and Chile congratulating them for their solidarity with Mexico and warning of the dangers of U.S. intervention. (An English translation follows the original letters in Spanish.)

Al Presídente de Brasil

Cuartel General en Veracruz, agosto 8 de 1915.—Excmo. Sr. Wenceslao J. Baceta, Presidente de la República del Brasil.—Rio Janeiro.

He tenido conocimiento de que [Robert] Lansing, secretario de Estado de los Estados Unidos del Norte, conferenció anteayer con los representantes del A. B. C., con el objeto de pacificar la República Mexicana, tratando así de inmiscuirse en sus asuntos interiores y de violar su soberanía. El pueblo mexicano has sabido, con beneplácito, que el representante de usted en Washington se rehusó dignamente a tomar participio en el atentatorio proyecto, dando un ejemplo que puede servir de precedente para la buena harmonía y confraternidad que debe existir entre las naciones latinoamericanas, cuyos destinos están íntimamente unidos. En nombre del pueblo mexicano y como Primer Jefe del Ejército Constitucionalista Encargado del Poder Ejecutivo de la Nación, doy a usted las gracias por este acto de justicía y de simpatía, sintiendo al mismo tiempo manifestar a usted que el señor Cardoso Oliveira ha sido una de las personas que mayores males han causado a la República Mexicana y que es en cierto modo responsable del estado atual de sus relaciones con la vecina República del Norte.

Aprovecho esta oportunidad, señor Presidente, para expresar a usted los vivos sentimientos de cordialided y simpatía del Pueblo Mexicano hacia el Pueblo Brasileño y manifestarle las seguridades de mi consideración más distinguida.—V. Carranza.

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Al Presidente de Argentina

Exmo. Sr. Victoriano de la Plaza.—Presidente de la República Argentina.—Buenos Airies.

[Robert] Lansing, Secretario de Estado del Gobierno americano y Representante del A. B. C., conferenciaron anteayer en Washington, para acordar acerca de la pacificación de México, tratando de inmiscuirse en asuntos exclusivos de su soberanía. Movido por el más puro patriotismo y deseando que se asegure el reinado de la libertad y de la democracia en América, en nombre del pueblo mexicano y como Primer Jefe del Ejército Constitucionalista, Encargado del Poder Ejecutivo de la Unión, me permito llamar la atención a usted sobre los peligros que puede traer una nueva política de intromisión de una o varias de las naciones de este continente en los asuntos interiores, y que atañen exclusivamente a la soberanía de cualquiera de ellas. Como en dichas conferencias, el gobierno de esa nación que usted dignamente preside, tiene un Representante, espero que su gestión se inspire en las ideas y sentimientos que acabo de manifestar a usted; pues sería un error imperdonable y se cometería un crimen contra nuestra raza, si ese Gobierno contribuyera a provocar la guerra entre dos naciones americanas, por tratar un gobierno poderoso de imponer su voluntad a un Pueblo libre, independiente y soberano, conculcando sus derechos y nulificando el triunfo que acaba de alcanzar por medio de las armas, para establecer definitivamente un régimen de libertad y de justicia.

Aprovecho esta oportunidad, señor Presidente, para expresar a usted los vivos sentimientos de cordialidad y simpatía del pueblo mexicano hacia el pueblo argentino y manifestarle las seguridadades de mi consideración más distinguida.—V. Carranza.

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Al Presidente de Chile

Exmo. Sr. Ramón Barroso Luco.—Presidente de la República de Chile.—Santiago de Chile.

[Robert] Lansing, Secretario de Estado del Gobierno americano y Representante del A. B. C., conferenciaron anteayer en Washington, para accordar pacificación de México, tratando de inmiscuirse en asuntos exclusives de su soberanía. Movido por el más puro patriotismo y deseando que se asegure el reinado de la liberatad y de la democracia en América, en nombre del pueblo mexicano y como Primer Jefe del Ejército Constitucionalista, Encargado del Poder Ejecutivo de la Union, me permito llamar la atención de usted sobre los peligros que puede traer una nueva política de intromisión de una o varias de las naciones de este Continente en los asuntos interiores, y que atañen exclusivamente a la soberanía de cualquiera de ellas. Como en dichas conferencia, el gobierno de esa Nación, que usted dignamente preside, tiene un Representante, espero que su gestión se inspire en las ideas y sentimientos que acabo de manifestar a usted; pues sería un error imperdonable y ese Gobierno se haria complice de un crimen contra nuestra raza, si contribuyera a provocar una guerra entre dos naciones americanas, por tratar un Gobierno poderoso de imponer su voluntad a un pueblo libre, independente y soberano, conculcando sus derechos y nulificando el completo triunfo que acaba de alcanzar por medio de las armas, para establecer definitivamente un régimen de liberatad y de justicia. Acto tan injustificado y de tan funestas y tras cendentales consecuencias para todas las naciones latino-americanas, ninguna de ellas debe tolerar ni contribuir a su ignominiosa ejectución.

Aprovecho esta oportunidad, señor Presindente, para expresar a usted los vivos sentimientos, de cordialidad y simpatía del pueblo mexicano hacia el pueblo chileno y manifestarle las seguridades de mi consideración distinguida.

V. Carranza.

Del Pueblo, 10 Agosto 1915.

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To the President of Brazil

General Headquarters, Veracruz, August 8, 1915. His Excellency Sr.—Wenceslao J. Baceta, President of the Republic of Brazil. Rio de Janeiro.

It has come to my attention that [Robert] Lansing, Secretary of State of the United States of North America, met the day before yesterday with representatives of A. B. C., [Argentina, Brazil, and Chile] with the aim of pacifying the Republic of Mexico, in this way attempting to interfere in its internal affairs and violate its sovereignty. The Mexican people have learned, to their satisfaction, that your representative in Washington appropriately refused to be a party to the illegal enterprise, setting an example that can become a precedent for the positive harmony and fraternity that should exist among Latin American nations, whose destinies are intimately linked. In the name of the Mexican people and as Commander in Chief of the Constitutionalist Army in Charge of the Executive Power of the nation, I thank you for this just and amicable act, but I also lamentably have to inform you that Mr. Cardoso Oliveira has been among those that have caused the greatest harm to the Republic of Mexico and that in a certain manner he is responsible for the current state of relations with our neighboring Republic to the North.

I take advantage of this opportunity, Mr. President, to express to you the deep sentiments of cordiality and affection the Mexican People hold towards the Brazilian people and to assure you of my highest respect for you.—V. Carranza.

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To the President of Argentina

His Excellency Sr. Victoriano de la Plaza. President of the Republic of Argentina. Buenos Aires.

[Robert] Lansing, Secretary of State of the North American Government, and [the] Representative of A. B. C. met the day before yesterday in Washington to reach an understanding with respect to the pacification of Mexico, in an attempt to interfere in matters solely pertaining to its sovereignty. Compelled by the purest patriotism and desirous of assuring the rule of liberty and democracy in America, in the name of the Mexican people and as Commander in Chief of the Constitutionalist Army, in Charge of the Executive Power of the Union, I take the liberty of calling to your attention the potential dangers of a new policy of interference on the part of one or several nations of this continent in [others'] internal affairs, [affairs] that lie exclusively within the domain of their sovereignty. In view of the fact that in the aforementioned meetings, the government of the nation over which you honorably preside has a Representative, I hope that your acts will be inspired by the ideas and sentiments that I have just expressed, for it would be an unpardonable error and a criminal act against our [Latin American] race, if that Government contributed to the provocation of war between two [Latin] American nations, because a powerful government attempted to impose its will upon a free, independent, and sovereign People, violating their rights and nullifying the victory they have just won by force of arms, in order to establish once and for all the reign of liberty and justice. . . .—V. Carranza

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To the President of Chile

His Excellency, Sr. Ramon Barroso Luco. President of the Republic of Chile. Santiago de Chile.

[Robert] Lansing, Secretary of State of the North American Government, and [the] Representative of A. B. C. met the day before yesterday in Washington, to resolve the pacification of Mexico, in an attempt to interfere in matters solely pertaining to its sovereignty. Compelled by the purest patriotism and desirous of assuring the rule of liberty and democracy in America, in the name of the Mexican people and as Commander in Chief of the Constitutionalist Army, in Charge of the Executive Power of the Union, I take the liberty of calling to your attention the potential dangers of a new policy of interference on the part of one or several nations of this Continent in [others] internal affairs, [affairs] that lie exclusively within the domain of their sovereignty. In view of the fact that in such meetings the government of the Nation over which you honorably preside has a Representative, I hope that your acts will be inspired by the ideas and sentiments that I have just expressed, for it would be an unpardonable error and that Government would become an accomplice to a crime against our [Latin American] race, if it contributed to the provocation of war between two [Latin] American nations, because a powerful government attempted to impose its will upon a free, independent, and sovereign people, violating its rights and nullifying the total victory it has just won by force of arms, in order to establish once and for all the reign of liberty and justice. [Before] an act so unjustified and bearing such disastrous and far-reaching consequences for all Latin American nations, none of them should tolerate or contribute to its shameful execution. . . .—V. Carranza.

Source: Del Pueblo [Of the People], August 10, 1915. (Translation by Felix Cortes.)

See Also:"Avoid the Use of the Word Intervention": Wilson and Lansing on the U.S. Invasion of Mexico
John Reed's "What About Mexico?": The United States and the Mexican Revolution