own way, and we sincerely desire to respect their right. The present situation need have none of the grave implications of interference if we deal with it promptly, firmly, and wisely.

"No doubt I could do what is necessary in the circumstances to enforce respect for our Government without recourse to the Congress and yet not exceed my constitutional powers as President, but I do not wish to act in a matter possibly of so grave consequence except in close conference and co-operation with both the Senate and House. I therefore come to ask your approval that I should use the armed forces of the United States in such ways and to such an extent as may be necessary to obtain from General Huerta and his adherents the fullest recognition of the rights and dignity of the United States, even amidst the distressing conditions now unhappily obtaining in Mexico.

"There can in what we do be no thought of aggression or of selfish aggrandizement. We seek to maintain the dignity and authority of the United States only because we wish always to keep our great influence unimpaired for the uses of liberty, both in the United States and wherever else it may be employed for the benefit of mankind."

As a result of the President's address, authority for action was given by the following resolution of Congress:

d. JOINT RESOLUTION JUSTIFYING THE EMPLOYMENT OF THE ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES BY THE PRESIDENT.'

In view of the facts presented by the President of the United States in his address delivered to the Congress in joint session on the twentieth day of April, 1914, with regard to certain affronts and indignities committed against the United States in Mexico: Be it

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the President is justified in the employment of the armed forces of the United States to enforce his demand for unequivocal amends for certain affronts and indignities committed against the United States.

IU. S. Stat. at L., 38, 770.

Be it further resolved, That the United States disclaims any hostility to the Mexican people or any purpose to make war upon Mexico.

Approved April 22, 1914.

On April 21, the President ordered Admiral Fletcher to take possession of the customhouse at Vera Cruz to prevent the landing of the munitions cargo of the German ship Y piranga, consisting of 15,000,000 rounds of ammunition and 200 rapid fire guns consigned to General Huerta. The customhouse was occupied by American marines and sailors after fighting in which 19 Americans were killed and 70 were wounded, the Mexican casualties being 126 killed and 195 wounded. Fighting continued for several days. On April 22 passports were handed by General Huerta to Nelson O'Shaughnessy, the American chargé d'affaires at Mexico City, and on April 23 the Mexican chargé d'affaires at Washington, A. Algara R. de Terreros, asked for and received his passports. President Wilson restored the embargo on the shipment of arms into Mexico on April 23. On April 24 the Fifth Brigade of the United States army sailed from Galveston, Texas, for Vera Cruz.

On April 25, the ambassador of the United States of Brazil, the ministers of the Argentine Republic and the Republic of Chile, and the Secretary of State of the United States, made a joint tender of good offices.

e. TENDER AND ACCEPTANCE OF GOOD OFFICES AND MEDIATION. (1.) The Brazilian Ambassador and the Argentine and Chilian Ministers to the Secretary of State.

Mr. Secretary of State:

WASHINGTON, April 25, 1914.

With the purpose of subserving the interests of peace and civilization on our continent, and with the earnest desire to prevent any further bloodshed, to the prejudice of the cordiality and union which have always surrounded the relations of the governments and peoples of America, we, the plenipotentiaries of Brazil, Argentina and Chile, duly authorized hereto, have the honor to tender to your Excellency's Government our good offices for the peaceful and friendly settlement of the conflict between the United States and Mexico.

This offer puts in due form the suggestions which we have had occasion to offer heretofore on the subject to the secretary, to whom we renew the assurances of our highest and most distinguished consideration.

D. DA GAMA.

R. S. NAÓN.

EDUARDO SUÁREZ-MUJICA.

(2.) The Secretary of State to the Brazilian Ambassador and the Argentine and Chilian

Ministers.

DEPARTMENT OF STATE, WASHINGTON, April 25, 1914.

The Government of the United States is deeply sensible of the friendliness, the good feeling and the generous concern for the peace and welfare of America manifested in the joint note just received from your Excellencies tendering the good offices of your Governments to effect, if possible, a settlement of the present difficulties between the Government of the United States and those who now claim to represent our sister Republic of Mexico. Conscious of the purpose with which the proffer is made, this Government does not feel at liberty to decline it. Its own chief interest is in the peace of America, the cordial intercourse of her republics and their people, and the happiness and prosperity which can spring only out of frank, mutual understandings and the friendship which is created by common purpose.

The generous offer of your Governments is therefore accepted. This Government hopes most earnestly that you may find those who speak for the several elements of the Mexican people willing and ready to discuss terms of satisfactory, and therefore permanent, settlement. If you should find them willing, this Government will be glad to take up with you for discussion in the frankest and most conciliatory spirit any proposals that may be authoritatively formulated, and will hope that they may prove feasible and prophetic of a new day of mutual co-operation and confidence in America.

This Government feels bound in candor to say that, its diplomatic relations with Mexico being for the present severed, it is not possible for it to make sure of an uninterrupted opportunity to carry out the plan of intermediation which you propose. It is, of course, possible that some act of aggression on the part of those who control the military forces of Mexico might oblige the United States to act, to the upsetting of the hopes of

immediate peace; but this does not justify us in hesitating to accept your generous suggestion.

We shall hope for the best results within a time brief enough to relieve our anxiety lest ill-considered hostile demonstrations should interrupt negotiations and disappoint our hopes of peace.

The text of the mediators' tender to General Huerta is not available. It was probably identical with the first paragraph of the tender to the United States.

General Huerta accepted the tender of good offices on April 27 through the Spanish ambassador at Washington, who was acting for him diplomatically owing to lack of Mexican diplomatic representation near the Government of the United States. The acceptance by Señor Lopez Portillo y Rojas, his minister for foreign affairs, was "in principle":

(3.) General Huerta's Minister for Foreign Affairs to the Brazilian Ambassador and the Argentine and Chilian Ministers.1

(CABLEGRAM.-VERY URGENT.)

MEXICO CITY, April 27, 1914.

With reference to yesterday's telegram, tell the Spanish Ambassador that mediation is accepted in principle, and that we are very much obliged for his good offices, as well as to the representatives of the A. B. C., which are a proof of the solidarity of the peoples of Spanish origin."

'Boston Evening Transcript, May 2, 1914.

LOPEZ PORTILLO Y ROJAS.

The under-secretary for foreign affairs, Roberto Esteva Ruiz, in a statement to the New York Tribune (April 28, 1914) said:

"The Mexican chancellery accepted this mediation because all its efforts in the international conflict with the United States have been directed exclusively to the defense of the nation's honor and dignity, and, in consequence, if the opportunity presents itself of solving the conflict by peaceful means, the Mexican chancellery considers it the duty of patriotism to accept those means on the basis that, whatever arrangement may be concluded, care will be had that Mexico's name be honorably placed. The Government's purpose has been to repel offenses done to the Mexican fatherland. But as soon as, in accordance with treaties signed at The Hague and with international practices, the possibility was presented of defending Mexico's honor through the friendly mediation of sister nations the Government accepted the spontaneous offer of the latter."

(4.) Exchange of notes between the Mediating Diplomats and General Venustiano Carranza, first chief of the revolution opposed to General Huerta.1

i. The mediators to General Carranza, April 28, 1914.

We, the diplomatic representatives of Brazil, Argentina and Chile, empowered by our respective Governments to extend an offer of our good offices to all parties at interest in the problem of the pacification of Mexico and the adjustment of the differences between Mexico and the United States, herewith invite your attention to the facts in your capacity as Supreme Chief of the revolution, and we feel assured that you will accept the proposition in principle. Recognizing the sentiments of high patriotism which animate you, we take the liberty of transmitting this communication to you directly after having failed after several attempts to have our message communicated to you by your agents here.

ii. General Carranza to the mediators, April 29, 1914.

I thank you sincerely for the offer which you have so kindly made me in behalf of your respective Governments in an attempt to solve in a peaceful and friendly way the differences between Mexico and the United States. Therefore, by authority of my position as First Chief of the revolution, I accept in principle the good offices of Brazil, Argentina and Chile, through their distinguished representatives.

Reserving to myself the right to enter into details of the negotiations, it affords the greatest satisfaction to assure you of my most distinguished consideration.

On April 30, the United States and General Huerta had agreed to a mutual suspension of hostilities at the request of the mediators. The United States was to remain in occupation of Vera Cruz, but not to advance; the Huertistas were not to attempt. to displace them. General Carranza would not consent to rest on his arms and as a consequence was not represented at the mediatory proceedings.

f. CORRESPONDENCE RESPECTING AN ARMISTICE.

(1.) The Mediators to the United States, General Huerta and General Carranza.

(Not available.)

New York Times, April 30, 1914. General Carranza was titular chief of the Constitutionalist party. Its political purposes are set forth in Sen. Doc. No. 153, 63d Cong., 1st Sess.