The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1911-04-21
HES|IhTES
ABOUT INTERFERENCE

HDUUI INIInILIILNUL
Washington, D. c., April 1.-THE
wounding Of American noncombatants
in Douglas in today's fighting across
the border resulted in message from
lGoy. Sloan to President Taft, saying
"radical measures are needed to pro-
Itect our innocent people. and II any
thing can be done to sto pthe fighting
at Aqua Prieta the situation calls Tor
such action" He adds, Can anything
be done to relieve the situation, which
is now acute?"
The president, in his telegram to
the governor, said the situation might
Justify him in ordering troops to cross
the border and attempt to stop the
lighting or to fire upon both contest
ants from the American side. He
|hesitated to take such step because
of the possibility of resistance and
greater bloOdshed, and the danger OF
having his motives misconstrued and
arousing Mexicans against Americans
now in Mexico.
In view of the conditions there, the
president felt he could not order the
troops at Douglas to cross the border.
but he again emphasized the advisa-
bility of the people of Douglas avoid
II ing exposing themselves to flying bull
lets.
| The Governors Message.
The message to the president was
dated Douglas, 1921 o'clock tonight.
1t read:
|"The President, Washington, D. c.:
"In my judgment, radical measures
are needed to protect our innocent peo-
pie, and if anything can be done to
stop the fighting at Aqua Prieta the
situation calls for such action. 1t is
impossible to safeguard the people OF
douglas unless the town can be va
Gated. Can anything be done to relieve
the situation, which is now acute?
(Signed) ORCHARD E. SLOAN,
Governor"
The Presidents Reply.
The reply of the president, trans
mitted briefly, read:
ITO Gov. Sloan, Douglas, Ariz.:
your dispatch received. Have made
urgent demands upon the Mexican gov
eminent to issue instructions to pre-
vent firing across the border by Mex
lean federal troops and am waiting re-
ply. Meantime, have sent direct
warning to the Mexican and insurgent
forces near Douglas.
II infer from your dispatch that both
parties attempt to heed the warning,
but that in the strained situation and
Iexigencies of the conetst wild bullets
still find their way into Douglas. The
situation might justify me in ordering
our troops to cross the border and at
tempt to stop the fighting or to fire
upon both combatants from the Ameri-
can side.
But if take this step must face
the possibility of resistance and great
er bloodshed, and also the danger of
having our motives misconstrued and
misrepresented, and of thus inflaming
Mexican popular indignation against
many thousands of Americans now in
lAexico and jeopardizing their lives and
property.
Must Exercise Restraint.
"The pressure for general interven-
ton under such conditions it might not
be practicable to resist. It is impos-
sible to foresee or reckon the conse.
Quences Of such course, and we must
use the greatest self-restraint to avoid.
Pending my urgent representations
to the Mexican government, Il cannot,
therefore, order the troops at Douglas
to cross the border, but must ask you
and the local authorities, in case the
same danger seems to threaten, to di-
rect the people of Douglas to place
themselves where bullets cannot reach
them and thus avoid casualties. l am
loath to endanger Americans in Mexico
where they are necessarily exposed, by
taking radical step to prevent injury
to Americans on our side of the Dor.
der. who can avoid it by temporary
inconvenience.
I (Signed) WILLIAM H. TAFT"
The president found the Mexican
situation demanding his attention until
late hour. He had spent the even
ling at the theater. Returning to the
White House, he plunged anew into
consideration Of the problems CON
fronting him.
NO MORE MONEY FOR
MOVEMENT or TROOPS