MEXICO UNDER CARRANZA
51
as abroad, with the intention, undoubtedly, of appealing to the sympathy and support of our country and the world for the declared effort of the Carranza revolutionists to restore the constitution in its full force and thereby give to Mexico a government which should safeguard the rights of her own people, as well as of foreigners. These documents, undoubtedly, had that effect among people who knew the Mexican constitution of 1857, referred to in them, as being an admirable organic law for the foundation of a democratic government.
The "Inclosure No. 7," referred to in paragraph 7 of the letter of the Secretary of State to the President is a letter from Mr. Arredondo to the Secretary of State, dated October 8, 1915, as follows:
"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 honour to say that inasmuch as the reëstablishment 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 coöperating to the support of the government, the laws of reform, which guarantee individual freedom of worship according to everyone's conscience t shall be strictly observed.
