Mediation Offensive to Mexicans, Say Gen. Blanco and Gov. Pesqueira.

New York Times 100 years ago today, August 1, 1913:
Election Impossible Until War Ends — Free Importation of Arms By Both Sides the Only Acceptable Plan.
By Telegraph to the Editor of The New York Times.
    BROWNSVILLE, Texas, July 31.— With due deference to the opinion of the chief of the Constitutionalist Party, Venustiano Carranza, I am glad to transmit to the American public through your dignified columns the personal opinion solicited by you.
    Amicable mediation by the United States is not acceptable, because it is entirely impracticable and contrary to the sentiments of independence which are dear to the hearts of the Mexican people, and because it is offensive to our national pride, we believing and knowing ourselves competent and able to settle our own internal difficulties. Your nation arose to greatness through four years of bloody civil strife, during which time your people fought for principles no more sacred than those we fight for to-day.
    The retirement of Huerta would not suffice to terminate the war. For us to endeavor to have parties representing diametrically opposed ideals and principles, agree on the naming of an individual to act as President until an election could be held would be an exceedingly dangerous experiment. In the first place, under existing conditions it would be impossible to find an individual upon whom both parties could agree. In the second place, every section of Mexico is to-day dominated and controlled by the troops of one side or the other. Under these conditions an election in the true sense would be impossible. It would be like an endeavor to stop the civil war in the United States at its height, and hold an election.
    We Constitutionalists are not fighting to place any particular man in office. We are fighting for well-defined and fundamental principles.
    Permitting the free importation of arms by both contending parties is fair and equitable, and is the only one of the three plans proposed which would be acceptable. This plan would give full opportunity to the great majority of our citizens to arm themselves and overthrow the Federal Army, which is already much weakened and which is the only resort left to Huerta. I have under my command 67,000 men in the States of Nuevo Leon and Tamaulipas. Practically the whole of the States are under my control, except a few places, such as Victoria, Monterey, Tampico, and Nuevo Laredo, where the enemy are concentrated, inactive and practically besieged.
    The fact that the Constitutionalists are fighting for principles of law and order and for the protection of the Constitutional rights of the people of Mexico; the fact that the Huerta faction has in truth the support only of the officers of the Huerta army, while the private soldiers are serving only because they are forced to do so, and are deserting and coming to our cause whenever the opportunity is afforded them; the fact that in the brief time since the usurpation of the Presidency by Huerta the Constitutionalist cause, though handicapped by lack of arms, has gained control of a large part of twenty-four States in Mexico, and is constantly and rapidly growing in power and influence — all of these causes lead to the firm belief that the Constitutionalist cause in Mexico will triumph, and at an early date.
            Gen. LUCIO BLANCO,
            Governor of State of Tamaulipas.

By Telegraph to the Editor of The New York Times.
    DOUGLAS, Ariz., July 31.— I consider the mediation scheme impossible. Nobody sympathizing with or having any connection whatsoever with the Huerta group would be acceptable for Provisional President. The revolution's duty is to treat Huerta and his associates as convicts, instead of treating with them. The revolution will endeavor to capture them and subject them to trial for their crimes. The revolution is strong enough to do it.
    No election is possible until the revolution wins. Importation of arms on equal terms to both parties would be the best solution of the situation in order to bring about a quick termination of the disturbances and procure peace.
    The revolutionists in Sonora control all of the State, with the exception of the town of Guaymas. The number of men in arms for the revolution there is about 7,000.
    I consider that in one month the revolutionists will reach the capital triumphantly.
            I. L. PESQUEIRA,
            Acting Governor of Sonora.