Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1911-12-13

were about to enter upon ghostllltieE
because of complications growing out
Of ian acrimonious boundary dispute
which the efforts Of many years had
failed to solve. The government OF
the United States, by friendly inter.
position of good Offices, succeeded in
prevailing uopn the parties to place
their reliance upon some form Of paci
fic settlement. Accordingly, on the
friendly suggestion of this govern
ment, the two governments empow.
cred commissioners to meet at Wash
ington in conference at the state de.
partment in order to arrange the
terms of submission to arbitration OF
the boundary controversy.
chamizaI Arbitration Not Satisfactory
Our arbitration of the Chamizal
boundary question with Mexico was
unfortunately abortive, but with the
earnest efforts on the part Of both
governments which its Importance
commands, 1t is felt that an early
practical adjustment should prove pos
sible.
" SXIC0s
The recent political events in Mexi.
co received attention from this gov
eminent because of the exceedingly
delicate and difficult situation created
along our southern border and the ne
cessity for taking measures properly
to safeguard American interests. The
government of the United States, In
its desire to secure proper observ.
ance and enforcement Of the so.called
neutrality statutes Of the federal gov.
eminent, issued directions to the ap'
propriate officers to exercise dill
gent and vigilant regard for the re.
quirements of such rules and laws. Al.
though a condition of actual armed
conflict existed, there was no official
recognition Of belligerency involving
the technical neutrality obligations OF
international law.
On the 9Th of March last, In the alb
sence Of the secretary OF state, ! had
personal Interview with Mr.. Wilson
the ambassador Of the United States
to Mexico, in which he reported to me
ludL tut III VACAASo wa =
much more critical than the press dis
patches disclosed; that President D1az
was on a volcano of popular uprising
that the small outbreaks which hao
occurred were only symptomatic OF
the whole condition; that very large
per cent. of the people We're In sym
patty with the Instruction; that 9
general explosion was probable at any
time, in which case he feared that the
100000 or more American residents II
Mexico might be assailed, and tina,
the very large American investments
might be injured or destroyed.
After q conference with the secre
tary of war and the secretary of the
navy, l thought it wise to assemble ar
army division of full strength at Sar
Antonio, Tex, brigade of three regi
ments at Galveston, a brigade OF IN
fantry in the Los Angeles district o.
Southern California, together with
squadron Of battleships and cruisers
and transports at Galveston, and
small squadron of ships at San Diego
At the same time, through our repre-
sentative at the City of Mexico, ex
pressed to President Diaz the hops
that no apprehensions might result
from unfounded conjectures as t
these military 5maneuvers, and as
sured him that they had no signif
canoe which should cause concern t
his government.
The mobilization was effected witt
great promptness, and on the 18th o
March, through the secretary of wa
and the secretary of the navy, in q let
ter addressed to the chief Of staff,
issued the following Instructions:
ut seems my duty as commando
in chief to place troops in suffcien
number where, If Congress shall d
rect that they enter Mexico to saw
American lives and property, an ef
fective movement may be prompt!
made. Meantime, the movement of tn
troops to Texas and elsewhere nea
the boundary, accompanied with sin
cere assurances Of the utmost good
will toward the present Mexican gov
eminent and with larger and mor'
frequent patrols along the border tt
prevent insurrectionary expedition!
from American soil, will hold UP thu
hands of the existing government ant
will have healthy moral effect to pre-
vent attacks upon Americans ant
their property in any subsequent gen
eral internecine strife. Again. the
sudden mobilization Of division O
troops has been great test OF oul
army and full of useful instruction
while the maneuvers that are thus
made possible can occupy the troops
and their officers to great advantage
1.-THE assumption by the press that
/ contemplate Intervention on Mexican
soil to protect American lives or prop
erty is of course gratuitous, because
seriously doubt whether have such
authority under any circumstances
and II 1 had l would not exercise II
without express congressional ap
prevail. My determined purpose, how
ever, is to be in position SO that
when danger to American lives and
property in Mexico threatens and the
existing government is rendered help
less by the insurrection, can prompt
IL execute congressional orders to
protect them. with effect.
Meantime, send you this letter
through the secretary, to call your
attention to some things in connection
with the presence OF the division In
the southwest which have doubtless
occurred to you, but which wish to
emphasize.
"In the first place, l want to make
the mobilization frst-class training
for the army, and wish you would
give your time and that of the war
college to advising and carrying out
maneuvers of a useful character, and
plan to continue to do this during the
next three months. BY that time we
may expect that either Ambassador
Wilson's fears will have been realized
and chaos and its consequences have
ensued, or that the presen. govern
ment Of Mexico will have 70 read