The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-04-18
Danger of Having Motives
Misunderstood; and Also
of Putting Americans in
Mexico in Jeopardy.
ARIZONA GOVERNOR
ASKS INTERVENTION
President Believes the Time
Has ComeJfor Congress
to Say What Step
Shall Be Taken.

WASHINGTON. April l7.--President
Taft tonight replied 10 a message from
Governor Sloan OF Arizona asking for
protection of citizens of Douglas against
the fire OF the federals and insurrectos.
that he was loath to endanger Americans
in Mexico by taking so radical step as
sending American troops across the bor-
der to prevent rurthcr lighting.
The president In his telegram TO the
governor said the situation might justify
him In ordering troops To cross the bur-
der and attempt 10 stop the fighting or
TO fire upon both contestants from the
American Side.
He hcsitated to take such a STEP be-
cause of the possibility OF resistance and
greater bloodsned and the danger OF har-
ing his motives misconstrued and arous-
! Ing MeXicans against Americans now In
Mexico.
In view of the conditions there the
president felt he could not order the
troops at Douglas 10 cross the border,
but he again emphasized the advisabilliy
of the people OF Douglas avoiding expos
Ing themselves To lying bullets.
'rhe message TO the president was dated
Douglas, l0;2l O'Clock tonight. 1t read.
Governors Message.
''The President, Washington. d. c.
AS result of today,s lighting across the
International line but within gunshot
range OF the heart of Douglas. five Amer
leans wounded on this side of the line.
Everything points TO repetition OF the
casualties on tomorrow and while the fed
erals seem disposed TO keep their agree
ment not TO fire into Douglas the posi-
tions OF the insurrectoS are such that
when lighting occurs the east and
southeast of the entertainments, people
living in Douglas are put in danger Of
''In my judgment radical measures are
needed to protect our innocent people.
and If anything can be done To stop the
for such action. 1t is Impossible To safe
guard the people OF Douglas unless the
town can be vacated Can anything be
done to relieve the situation. which is
now acute2'
"(signed) RICHARD e. SLOAN,
Governor
President Reply.
The reply OF the president, promptly
transmitted. read
your dispatch received Have made
urgent demands upon Mexican govern
ment to issue instructions to prevent fir,
ing across border by Mexican federal
troops and am waiting reply Meantime
have sent direct warning TO the MeXi-
cans and insurSent forces near Doug
las.
II infer from your dispatch that both
parties attempt to heed the warning. but
that in the strained situation and exi,
gencies OF the contest wild bullets still
find their way Into Douglas. The situa-
tion might Justify me in ordering our
troops to cross the border. and attempt
10 stop the fighting or 10 fire upon both
combatants from the American side.
But II take this step | must face
the possibility Of resistance and greater
bloodshed and also the danger OF hay
ing our motives mSconstrued and mis-
represented and of thus ipflamng MeXi-
can popular Indignation against many
thousands OF Americans now In Mexico
and jeopardiZing their lives and prop
erty.
''The pressure for general intervention
under such conditions ii might not be
practicable to resist. 1t is impossible TO
foresee or reckon the consequences of
such a course and we must the
greatest self restraint to avoid II.
Pending my urgent representations to
the Mexican government can not, there
fore. order the troops al Douglas TO cross
the border. but l must ask YOU and the
local authorities In case the same danger
seems TO threaten, 10 direct the people OF
Douglas TO place themselves where the
bullets cannot reach them. and thus avoid
casualties. | am loath TO endanger Amer
leans in Mexico where they neces
sarily exposed. by taking radical step to
prevent injury 10 Americans on our side
OF the border who can avoid IL by a tenn
porarY Inconvenience.
(SiGncd) "WM. Fl. TAFT.
The president found the Mexican situa-
ton dcma Dding his attention until late
hour. The evening he had spent at the
thoater. Returning 10 the White house he
plunged anew into consideration Of the
problems confronting him.