24 Chapter 2
Participants: 2 United States of America/70 Mexico
Outcome (and Settlement): Unclear (None)
Fatalities: None
Narrative: Disputes broke out between the Mexican federal government and rebels.
The outbreaks of violence were near the northern Mexican border with the United
States. The United States mobilized troops along the border and by sea. Many Euro-
pean nations wanted the United States to intervene to protect their citizens living in
Mexico. President Taft issued a proclamation warning all within the United States not
to take part in the Mexican revolution and to end the flow of weapons into Mexico.
The president thought it was necessary because there was no central figure in Mexico
leading the revolution who could be held accountable.
Coding changes: End Date changed from February 29, 1912.
MID#136
Dispute Number: 136
Date(s): July 15, 1913 to November 23, 1914
Participants: 70 Mexico/2 United States of America
Outcome (and Settlement): Victory for side A (Negotiated)
Fatalities: 251–500 deaths
Narrative: Mexican General Huerta had taken power from President Madero in a
coup d’état in February 1913. Less than one month before the end of the Taft admin-
istration, President Taft left the matter of recognition of the Huerta government to
incoming President Wilson. Wilson refused to recognize the Huerta presidency as
constitutionally legitimate, and his demands for a free and fair election to be held
in Mexico were consistently rebuffed throughout the first few months of the Huerta
rule. On July 15, the presence of five American battleships outside the ports of Tam-
pico and Veracruz and large military divisions along the Texas-Mexico border were
widely reported in Mexico. Later that month, Provisional President Huerta apologized
to the United States for the killing of a US immigration inspector in Juarez, and in
September, federal soldiers fired upon a US border patrol in El Paso. Similar incidents
continued throughout the rest of the year.
On April 9, 1914, the USS Dolphin, a ship frequently used to ship fleeing civil-
ians from the conflict areas, docked at Iturbide Bridge in Tampico, where it was
impounded by Mexican forces loyal to General Victoriano Huerta.
Huerta personally met with the arrested crew, apologizing for the incident
since the crew of the Dolphin did not know about the order of martial law in
Tampico. The apology was not enough; the American admiral wanted a 21-gun
salute to the American flag. Huerta asked for a similar show from the American
crew as well. This was refused by the admiral and, eventually, President Wood-
row Wilson. Wilson instead sought to compel respect from Mexico by invad-
ing and occupying Veracruz on April 21, 1914. The ABC Powers—Argentina,
Brazil, Chile—intervened in order to prevent a war between both sides. The
United States accepted the mediation on April 25 and General Huerta accepted
the offer the next day. The conference began on May 20 in Canada. An armistice
was declared the same day.