Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-07

IHE
las unless the town be vacated. Ian any
thing be done to relieve situa IN. now
acute?''
After a conference with the Secretary
of State the following telegram was sent
to Gov. Sloan on April Is, 1911, and made
public:
Your dispatch received Have made
urgent demand upon Mexican government
to issue instructions to prevent firing
across border by Mexican federal troops.
and am awaiting reply. Meantime have
sent direct warning to the Mexican and
insurgent forces near Douglas. l infer
from your dispatch that both parties
attempt to heed the warning. but tnat in
the strain and exigency of the contest
wild bullets still find their way into Doug
las. The situation might justify me in
ordering our troops to cross the border
and attempt to stop the fighting, or to
American side. But if take tits step 1
must face the possibility of resistance and
greater bloodshed, and also the danger of
having our motives misconstrued and
misrepresented. and of thus inf1aming
Mexican popular Indignation against
many thousand Americans now in Next
co and jeopardizing their lives and prop
erty. The pressure for general interven-
ton under such conditions 1t might not
be practicable to resist. 1t is Impossible
such course. and we must use the
greatest self-restraint to avoid it. Pend
ing my urgent representation to the Mex
lean government l cannot, therefore. or
der the troops at Douglas to cross the
border, but / must ask you and the local
authorities. in case the same danger re-
ours, to direct the people of Douglas to
place themselves where bullets cannot
reach them and thus avoid casualty.
am loath to endanger Americans in Mex
too vr.1o $h-vy vii
by taking a radical step to prevent injury
to Americans on our side of the border,
who can avoid it by temporary incon-
venience.
I am glad to say that no further inva-
sion Of American rights of any substan-
tial character occurred.
The presence of large military and
naval force available for prompt action.
near the Mexican border proved to be
most fortunate under the somewhat try
ing conditions presented by this invasion
of American rights. Had no movement
heretofore taken place, and because of
these events it had been necessary then
to bring about the mobilization, it must
have had sinister significance On the
other hand, the presence of the troops
before and at the time of the unfortunate
killing and wounding of American citi-
Zens at Douglas made clear that the re-
straint exercised by our government in
regard to this occurrence was not due to
it promptly and aggressively. but was
due to a real desire to use every means
possible to avoid direct intervention in
the affairs of our neighbor, whose friend
ship We valued and were most anxious to
retain.
Effect of American Restraint.
The policy and action of this govern
ment were based upon an earnest friend
Illness for the Mexican people as a whole
and it is a matter of qualification to note
that this attitude of strict impartiality
as to all factions in Mexico and of sin
cere friendship for the neighboring ma
ton, without regard for party allegiance
has been generally recognized and has re-
suited in an even closer and more sym
pathetic understanding between the two
republics and a warmer regard one for
the other. Action to suppress violence
and restore tranquility throughout the
Mexican republic was of peculiar interest
to this government in that it concerned
the safeguarding of American life and
property in that country. The govern
ment of the United States had occasion
to accord permission for the passage Of
a body of Mexican rurales through Doug
las. Ariz.. to Tia Juana, Mexico. for the
suppression Of general lawlessness which
had for some time existed in the region
of northern Lower California On May
%, 1911, President Diaz resigned. Senior
de la Barra was chosen provisional presl-
dent Elections for president and vice
president were thereafter held through
out the republic and Senior Francisco ].
Madero was formally declared elected
October 10 to the chief magistracy. On
November Is President Madero entered
upon the duties of his office.
Since the inaugura ton of President
Madero a plot has been unearthed against
the present government, to begin a new
insurrection Pursuing the SAN (onsist-
ent policy which this administN bn haas
adopted from the beginning, it directed
an investigation into the conspiracy
charged and this investigation has re-
suited in the indictment of Gen. Ber-
nardo Reyes and others and the seizure
of number of officers and men and
horses and accouterments assembled upon
the soil of Texas for the purpose of in
vaiing Mexico. Similar proceedings had
been taken during the insurrection
against the Diaz government resulting In
the indictment and prosecution of per-
sons found to be engaged in violating the
laws of the United States in
aid of that uprising.
The record of this government in re-
spect of the recognition of constituted
in Mexico therefore is clear.
Central America.
AS to the situation in Central America,
1 have taken occasion in the past to en-
phasiZe most strongly the Importance
that should be attributed to the consum-
nation of the conventions between the
republics of Nicaragua and of Honduras
and this country, and | again earnestly
!: ecommend that the neco sSary advice and
consent OF the Senate be accorded to
these treaties, which will make il posi-
BILE for these Central American republics
to enter upon an era of genuine economic
national development. The government
of Nicaragua, which has already taken
favorable action on the convention, has
found it necessary, pending the exchange
of final Notifications, to enter into negOtia-
tons with American bankers for the
purpose of securing temporary loan to
relieve the present financial tension. In
connection with this temporary loan and
in the hope of concentrating, through
the ultimate operation of the convention,
a complete and lasting &c nOmic regen-
Grafton the government of Nicarag qua
has also decided to engage an American
citizen collector general of, customs
The claims commission on which the
services OF two American citizens have
been sought and the work of the Ameri
can financial adviser should accomplish
a lasting good of inestimable benefit to
the prosperity, commerce and peace of
the republic. In considering the ratifica-
ton of the conventions with Nicaragua
and Honduras, there rests with the
United States the heavy responsibility
of the fact that their rejection here might
destroy the progress made and cOnsign
the republics concerned to still deeper
submergence in bankruptcy, revolution
and national jeopardy.
Panama.