The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-12-08

sage OF the freBi0cnt reIatlnS 10 Inc
pending arbitration treaties. Much Of
the time Of both houses was taken
with the reading of the message. Peace
was the keynote of the Presidents
After directing attention to the fact
that the United States In at present
On the most cordial terms with AL
the other world powers. President
Taft lauds the arbitration treaties
which this country has negotiated with
France and Great Britain and ex-
presses the sincere hope that the
Senate will ratify them at once.
A considerable portion OF the Pres
ident.a me.lage. and the most inter-
estinE, Is devoted to the Mexican sit
uation and the sudden mobilization Of
troops on the frontier. Following II
the message In part:
To the Senate and House Of Represen-
tattves:
The relations of the United statss
with other countries have continued
during the past twelve months upon
basis of the usual good will and
friendly intercourse.
Arbitration.
The year Just passed marks an ifn-
portant general movement on the part
Of the Powers for broader arbitration.
In the recognition OF the manifold
benefits to mankind In the extension
OF the policy Of the settlement Of tn
tsrnational disputes by arbitration
rather than by war, and In response
to = widespread demand for an ad-
vance In that direction on the part OF
the people OF the United States and
of Great Britain and OF France. new
arbitration treaties were negotiated
last spring with Great Britain and
France. the terms OF which were de-
al H. ~. M
OF these treaties. to extend tho scope
and ctlisAtions Of the policy OF arbi-
tration adopted In our present treaties
with those governments. To pave
the way for this treaty with the United
Stat0. Crest Britain negotiated an
important modification In Its alliance
with Japan. and the French Eovsrn-
ment also expedited the negotiations
with signal good will. The new trea-
and are awaiting its advice and CON-
sent to THAR ratification All tho e.
sentials Of these important treaties
have long bssn known, and II ID nay
earnest hope that rncy win receive
prompt and favorable action.
Mexican Situation.
The recent political events in Mex
lea received attention from this gov
eminent because Of the exceedingly
delicate and difficult situation created
along our southern border and the
necessity for taking measures properly
TO safeguard American interests. The
government OF the United States. in
it, desire to secure a proper obeerv-
ance and enforcement or the so-called
neutrality statutes of the Federal gov
eminent. issued directions to the APP
proprtate officers to exercise = dtiigent
and vigilant regard for the require
ments Of such rules and laws. Al
though u condition OF actual armed
conflict existed. there was lao official
recognition of belligereucy involving
the technical neutrality obligations OF
International law.
On the 9Th OF March last. In the
absence OF the secretary Of state, l
had a personal interview with Mr..
Wilson. the ambassador Of the United
States to Mexico. in which he report
"a to me that the conditions In Mex
leo were much more critical than tho
press dispatches disclosed. that Presi-
dent Diax was on n volcano OF popu-
lar uprising. that &hc small outbreaks
which had occurred ware only symp-
tomato Of the whole condition: that q
very large per cent OF the people were
In sympathy with the insurrection,
that general explosion was proba-
bio at any time. In which case he fear
ed that the 10000 or more Ameri-
can residents In Mexico might be as
sailed. and that the very large Amer
team investments might be injured or
destroyed.
After a conference with the secre-
tary OF war and the secretary Of tho
navy. / thought II wise to assemble
an army division Of fun strength at
San Antonio, Tex. brigade OF three
regiments at Galveston, q brigade OF
Infantry in the Los Angeles district OF
southern California, together with .
=. squadron Of battleships and cruisers
and transports at Galveston, and \
GunAil squadron Of ships At San Diego.
Al the same time. through our rep
reAentative at the city Of Mexico, ex-
pFessed to President Diax the hope
that no approximations might result
from unfounded con1ectures AZ to these
military maneuvers. and assured HIN,
that they had no Significance which
should cause concern to his govern
inent.
The mobilization was effected with
areat rromptiiees. and on the Is OF
March. through the secretary OF war
and the secretary Of the navy. In a
letter addressed to the chief OF star,
I issued the following Instructions:
IT seems nay duty ~ commander
1n-chief to place troops in sunacient
number where II Congress shall d.
rect that they enter Mexico to save
American lives and property, An a.
fectivo movement may be promptly
made. Meantime, the movement OF
the troops 20 Texas and elsewhere
near the boundary. accompanied with
goodwill toward the present Mexi-
can government ana with larger and
moro frequent patrols along the bor-
der to prevent lnsurTect5Dnasy OK