Here is a pic of these four leaders. As I understand things,
~Villa was basically a bandit/militia leader at the time.
~He was rebelling against the government of which Obregon was war minister.
~He invaded the US in protest against American recognition af that government.
~The US military didn’t involve itself heavily in Mexican affairs until Villa’s raid.
If all that’s true, what was the occasion for these four to sit down and chew the fat?
One website says the photo was taken at Nogales. Another one gives a good chronology of the whole border war, but doesn’t mention the meeting.
My WAG: The US incursion into Mexico to track down Villa led to enough anti-Americanism in Mexico that Villa and the government were able to mend fences for awhile, and at some point attended talks with the Americans.
The picture was taken in August 27, 1914. Most likely before escorting Villa and Obregon to the meeting in El Paso, Texas.
Pancho Villa was then one of the most important leaders of the Mexican revolution and to negotiate a possible end to the fighting the opposing Mexican factions meet in El Paso, Texas. I assume that was neutral territory for the Mexicans and that the US helped in the negotiations, looking to get a good deal from the future government.
“By October 1916, the United States recognized Carranza as the ruler of Mexico. Villa was very angry. He did not believe that Carranza had Mexico’s best interests at heart.”
Villa attacked the US not only because of that recognition, but also mostly because of weapons not delivered by US merchants. Then Pershing enters the picture again because he was ordered then to capture Villa.
“After 11 months, Pershing’s troops were called home without a victory over the clever Villa. This was one battle Pershing did not win.”