We assure you that no one of us has taken part in such measures, which we consider unpatriotic and unnecessary. It is true that we have to lament some injuries to persons and to matters pertaining to the worship and service of the Church; we consider all this as a sad consequence of the revolution which has moved the very foundation of our country and which in its sweeping zeal to tear up by the roots the elements of evil has, along with things which are really evil, affected others which are not such; but we confess that, in so far as concerns the most distinguished persons of the revolution, we have received attentions which we appreciate and in many instances guaranties which appear to us meritorious in our position as Mexican citizens. It is our hope, then, that without betaking ourselves to any foreign power we may be able to obtain all the guaranties and rights compatible with the laws under which we live; that we may be permitted, far from using any political effort whatever, to devote ourselves to the betterment of the poor and the pacification upon the basis of respect for the constituted authorities and the brotherhood of all Mexicans. Please accept this manifestation of our respect, our gratitude, and our distinguished consideration. ANTONIO J. PAREDES, Vicar General of the Archbishopric of Mexico, File No. 812.404/62. No. 90.] The Secretary of State to Consul Schmutz. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, SIR: The Department has received your despatch No. 258 of February 12, 1915, reporting that three Spanish priests [etc.] The Department approves of your action in sending the telegram to Mr. George C. Carothers asking him to see General Villa and try to have the order rescinded. It also approves of your action in giving certain letters to the Spanish Vice Consul for presentation to the three consular officers between Aguascalientes and El Paso, should it be necessary to request any aid of them. MY DEAR MR. BRYAN: A formal reply to your very interesting and very important letter of the 20th ultimo should have been sent you some weeks ago; but [etc.] How deeply this question of religious liberty in Mexico goes into the causes that brought the country into its present unhappy condition, you may realize by reverting to your reference to the land question. It may seem difficult to believe that this question is a direct result of the antireligious laws of Mexico; yet such is the fact. A very large majority of the people of Mexico are Indians. Under the wise laws made by Spain for the protection of the aboriginal people, they were wards of the State, just as our Indians are. The pueblos held lands for their Indian population in common, and these lands were worked in common. The law which dissolved communitiesaimed chiefly at religious communities-dissolved also the Indian communities, and did away with the Spanish community-lands. These lands were divided amongst the Indians as individuals, but long before all were ready to assume responsibilities. As a consequence, most of the new Indian proprietors sold or bartered them off for what they could get. It was chiefly through this bartering that the lands fell into the hands of large proprietors, and the Indians became their employees. Had the same course been followed in the United States, we all know that the same result could have been expected. The problem in Mexico, on account of the large Indian population, was a larger one than ours, but it was the same problem. Mexico took the wrong solution. No student of the Mexican situation believes today that the redistribution of the lands, unless safeguards are thrown about the right to sell, would bring about a different result. If the land question is all-important for a settlement of Mexico's troubles, the utmost care alone can prevent it coming again later to inaugurate a new reign of terror. But the point I wish to emphasize is, that it was the antireligious laws which in reality were responsible for the land question, upon which you very justly put so much stress. * * * Your mention of the need of education in Mexico is as interesting as your reference to a just and wise solution of the land question. There is no doubt whatever but that Mexico needs education; but again I desire to point out to you the fact, easily verified from the knowledge of those who are acquainted with Mexico's history, that the antireligious laws have been chiefly responsible for the said condition of education in Mexico today. Previous to the passing of these laws, Mexico had many schools for higher, secondary and primary education; and, even in the country districts and amongst the Indian tribes, schools existed, generously supported by offerings on the part of Catholic Spaniards and the wealthier Mexicans. The driving out of religious communities, whose one object was the conversion and uplifting of the Indians, closed the missions and the mission schools, for their foundations were confiscated by the State, or, by "denunciation", bought by private individuals for practically nothing. * Thanking you [etc.] FRANCIS C. KELLEY, President of The Catholic Church Extension Society File No. 812.404/98. No. 580.] Vice Consul Davis to the Secretary of State. AMERICAN CONSULATE, Guadalajara, August 30, 1915. SIR: I have the honor to say that I am herewith enclosing protests of Catholic women made to General Obregon at Mexico City, and of Guadalajara to Governor Berlanga against Catholic persecutions on the part of Constitutionalists. I have [etc.] [Inclosures-Summary.] WILL B. DAvis. [The first protest is dated in Mexico City, February 11, 1915, and purports to bear the signatures of eight hundred women. It is addressed to Citizen Alvaro Obregon and protests against the "unspeakable sacrilege" and "brutal outrage" committed through the confiscation of the parochial churches of Coyoacan, Atzcapozalco, and the churches of La Concepcion and Santa Brigida and its annex the Josefino College. It asks that the churches and colleges be restored to the uses for which they were created. The other protest is dated in Guadalajara, August —, 1915, and, though no signature is attached, is made by "the ladies of that city to the Provisional Governor of the State, Manuel Aguirre Berlanga." The protest "before the Governor, the Nation and the whole world" is against: 1. The blasphemies, profanations and spoliations of Catholic churches, sacrileges therein committed and the persecution of Catholic priests. 2. The free rein given to anti-Catholics and the insults and calumnies heaped on the Catholics by the official and semiofficial organs of the Revolution. 3. The law which forbids them to give their children a Christian education, a right conceded to them by the Constitution of 1857 though it was made against the Catholics. 4. The numberless executions by shooting for offenses which, even if proven. would not be punished with death by any civilized legislation.] File No. 812.404/99. Vice Consul Stadden to the Secretary of State. [Telegram.] MANZANILLO, September 29, 1915. The military authorities in Colima have confiscated Catholic church, orphan asylum, colleges, and have given fifteen days for the bishop to evacuate his palace. These desecrations of church property are causing great indignation. File No. 812.404/101. STADDEN. The Confidential Agent of the Constitutionalist Government to the Secretary of State. WASHINGTON, October 8, 1915. MY DEAR MR. LANSING: Complying with your excellency's request asking me what is the attitude of the Constitutionalist Government in regard to the Catholic Church in Mexico, I have the honor to say that inasmuch as the reestablishment of peace within order and law is the purpose of the Government of Mr. Venustiano Carranza, to the end that all the inhabitants of Mexico without exception, whether nationals or foreigners, may equally enjoy the benefits of true justice and hence take interest in cooperating to the support of the Government, the Laws of Reform, which guarantee individual freedom of worship according to everyone's conscience, shall be 86 Oral. strictly observed. Therefore the Constitutionalist Government will respect everybody's life, property and religious beliefs, without other limitation than the preservation of public order and the observance of the institutions in accordance with the laws in force and the Constitution of the Republic. Hoping that I may have honored your excellency's wishes, I avail [etc.] File No. 812.404/110. E. ARREDONDO. Father Kelley to the Secretary of State. [Extract.] CHICAGO, December 30, 1915. MY DEAR MR. LANSING: I am sending you herewith enclosed the following documents 72 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. Not printed. 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 PROTECTION BY THE UNITED STATES OF BRITISH, SPANISH, FRENCH, GERMAN, TURKISH, AND CHINESE INTERESTS IN MEXICO.7 BRITISH INTERESTS-ESTATE OF W. S. BENTON. File No. 312.41/369. No. 601] Consul Letcher to the Secretary of State. AMERICAN CONSULATE, Chihuahua, March 25, 1915. SIR: Referring to the Department's No. 298 of September 1, 1914, I have the honor to report that certain portions of the ranch of the estate of the late W. S. Benton still continue to be occupied by inhabitants of the villages of Santa Maria de Cuevas and Santa Rosalía under the terms of General Villa's order of April 20, 1914, and that it has been impossible to secure from the state authorities any satisfactory settlement for the occupation of the property during the past year. Following receipt of the instructions just indicated, I addressed a request to General Villa through the office of the Governor, Villa then being in the midst of a campaign, calling attention to the fact that the Los Remedios property had not been abandoned, as suggested to me in his letter of July 28, but had been continuously in charge of Mr. John Harvie as resident manager. In reply, in view of General Villa's preoccupation with military affairs, Governor Avila assumed responsibility for a proper settlement with Mrs. Benton for the use of her lands for the year 1914. After repeated subsequent correspondence with the Governor relative to the matter and after a purported investigation and report by the municipal president of Santa Maria de Cuevas to the Governor had been made, the latter offered payment to Mrs. Benton in the sum of 300 pesos, worth in U. S. currency at the present time about $30. This offer was communicated to Mr. Harvie, who refused it as ridiculous and absurd, stating that in excess of 2,000 acres had been occupied under Villa's order, in the cultivation of which 192 teams of oxen and horses had been used, and that, considering damages to fences, pasturing of cattle, free use of wood, etc., 5,000 pesos would even be an inadequate compensation. The Governor now states that he cannot consider any adjustment of the matter beyond the offer of 300 pesos, 87 Continued from For. Rel. 1914, p. 784. See also, in this volume, Treatment of re ligious orders in Mexico, etc., p. 1004. |