Negotiations for peace

Nº 220

AHSRE L-E- 953 F. 411 y 411 bis

The Arizona Republican, Phoenix, Arizona

17 de marzo de 1911

Negotiations for peace

Limantour Leaves for Home with Tentative Plan

What insurgents want

The Insurrecto Secretary of State Demands, in the First Place, a New Presidential Election with free Constitutional Ballot.

New York, march 16. The sudden departure from New York of Senor Limantour, the Mexican minister of finance, after a week of conferences and negotiations, is now explained by the understanding that he has succeeded in effecting a tentative plan by which substantial reforms are expected to be inmediately put into effect by the Mexican government, and the leading insurrectos being satisfied, are to aid in restoring peace.

Senor Limantour bears with him a full expression of the demands of the insurrectos, which it is hoped, will be acceptable to the Mexican government and will be made the basis of peace.

The presence here at the Hotel Astor of Senor Madero, father of the provisional president, together with his three sons, brothers of the provisional president, the fact that Limantour has seen three generations of confidential advisers of the Madero family, and the fact Limantour and Senor Madero have been in conference, while important messages have been exchanged between the finance minister and the City of Mexico add to the significance of the situation.

A reconstruction

What May Happen When Limantour returns.

Washington, March 16. Mexicans in Washintong in sympathy with the revolutionary movement in Mexico, as well as supporters of the federal government, displayed intense interest today in the movement of Senor Limantour, whose return to the City of Mexico, it is expected, means not only important changes in the cabinet of President Diaz, but a possible solution of the disorders.

The importance of Senor Limantour's return to the City of Mexico, it is said, lies in the fact that coincident with certain changes in the cabinet of President Diaz, reforms will be instituted in the administration of the various states calcuted to appease the revolutionists.

The fact that changes will be made in the Mexican cabinet is no longer a secret. The embassy here declined to discuss the subject of possible changes. In the post of minister of foreign affairs, it was pointed out by Dr. Gomez, President Diaz problaby realizes that he would not meet with as much opposition by placing Senor Limantour there as by retaining Senor Creel. One reason for the selection of Limantour for the position of minister of foreign affairs is the belief that in that role he would be able to exercise an influence upon the insurrecto element for the cause of peace.

Dr. Gomez said the revolutionists would not think of peace until the governors of Coahuila, Sonora, Zacatecas, Durango, Guerrero, and Yucatan are changed. He admitted that Senor Limantour had been fully advised of the intentions of the revolutions during his stay in New York, and he will be able to present to president Diaz a clear exposition of their demands. To that extent alone would revolutionists admit that peace negotiations were under way.

Unconditional surrender

Extravagant demands of the El Paso Junta.

El Paso, march 16. Before any proposals for the termination of the Mexican insurrecton will be entered into by the insurrectos, President Diaz must agree to declare null the election of 1910 and must agree to submit to a new election under the terms for a free ballot allowed by the constitution of 1857, and must agree to grant all political reforms demanded. The insurrectos must not be required to surrender their arms until peace is assured.

This is the reply of Senor Gonzalez Garza, the insurrecto secretary of state, to a statement from New York that senor Limantour, the Mexican minister of finance, had formulated tentative plans for ending the insurrection and in effect it is the reply of Francisco I. Madero, the revolutionary leader.

Madero is about 100 miles south of El Paso surrounded by about 1000 followers. He is reported to be coming northward to be joined enroute by Orozco, with 800 men. Whether their destination is the frontier in connection with any peace negotiations is not known. Comunication with Madero has been difficult, requiring three or four days for a courier to reach him.

“President Madero is the only man authorized to conclude any armistice”, said Garza. “He holds his authority because he represents the will of the people. Dr. Francisco Vasquez, the insurrecto representative at Washington, or the members of Madero's family would be able only to suggest a plan”.