Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1911-12-15

justed matters as to secure tranquility
"a result devoutly to be wished. The
troops can then be returned to their
posts.
Second, Texas is a state ordinarily
peaceful, but you can not put 10000
troops into 1t without running some
risk Of a collision between the peo-
Pile Of the state, and especially the
Mexicans who live in Texas near the
border and who sympathize with the
insurrectos. and the federal soldiers.
For that reason beg you to be as
careful as you can to prevent friction
OF any kind.
Third. One of the great troubles
in the concentration of troops is the
danger Of disease, and l suppose that
you have adopted the most modern
methods for the preventing and, II
necessary. for stamping out epidemics.
That Is SO much part of a cam
paign that 1t hardly seems necessary
for me to call attention to 1t.
Finally, / wish you to examine the
question Of the patrol of the border
and put as many troops on that work
as Is practicable, and more than are
now engaged in 1t, in order to prevent
the use of our borderland for the
carrying on of the instruction. l have
given assurances to the Mexican am
bassador on this point
Il sincerely hope that this expert
ence will always be remembered by
the army and navy as a useful means
of education, and | should be greatly
disappointed If 1t resulted In any in
jury or disaster to our forces from any
cause. | have taken a good deal of
responsibility in ordering this mobil-
ization. but I am ready to answer for
1t If only you and those under you
use the utmost care to avoid the diff
ficulties which / have pointed out"
| am more than happy to here re-
cord the fact that all apprehensions
as to the effect Of the presence of SO
large military force in Texas proved
groundless; no disturbances occurred
From time to time communications
were received from Ambassador Will
son, who had returned to Mexico. con-
firming the view that the massing of
American troops in the neighborhood
had had good effect vru
The Instruction continued and E@$
suited In engagements between tMSS
regular Mexican troops and the ins H
gents, and this along the border, E$
that in several instances bullets fr&HN
the contending forces struck Amerid
citizens engaged in their lawful oc @
pations on American soil.
Proper protests were made against
these invasions of American rights to
the Mexican authorities.
The presence of large military
and naval force available for prompt
action. near the Mexican border,
proved to be most fortunate under the
somewhat trying conditions presented
by this invasion of American rights.
Had no movement heretofore taken
place, and because of these events 1t
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 unfor-
tunate killing and wounding of Amer
lean citizens at Douglas, made clear
that the restraint exercised by our
government in regard to this occur
renee was not due to lack of force
or power to deal with 1t promptly and
aggressively, but was due to a real
desire to use every means possible to
avoid direct Intervention In the af-
fairs of our neighbor. whose friend
ship we valued and were most anxious
to retain
The policy and action of this gov
eminent were based upon an earnest
friendliness for the Mexican people
as a whole. and 1t is matter of
qualification to note that this attitude
of strict impartiality as to all fac
lions In Mexico and of sincere friend
ship for the neighboring nation, with
out regard for party allegiance, has
been generally recognized and has
resulted in an even closer and more
sympathetic understanding between
the two republics and warmer re-
gard one for the other Action to
suppress FlOlSuC0 anu restore tran
guilty throughout the Mexican repub.
lie was Of peculiar interest to this
government. in that 1t concerned the
safeguarding of American life and
property in that country. On May 25.
1911, President Diaz resigned. Senior
de la Barra was chosen provisional
president. Elections for president
and vice-president were thereafter
held throughout the republic, and
Senior Francisco l. Madero was for
mally declared elected on October Is
to the chief magistracy. On Noyem-
Der President Madero entered upon
the duties of his office,
Honduras and Nicaragua Treaties
Proposed.
As to the situation in Central
America have taken occasion In the
past to emphasize most strongly the
Importance that should be attributed
to the consummation of the conven-
lions between the Republics of Mica
ragua and of Honduras and this
country. and I again earnestly recon-
mend that the necessary advice and
consent OF the senate be accorded to
these treaties. which will make II pos
sible for these Central American re-
publics to enter upon an era OF genu.