Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1911-04-18


personally all that can be done by
him TO control the situation along the
Mexican border. He and his advisers
believe that now congress must say
whether the situation is grave enough
to warrant Intervention and its con-
sequences.
Through the state department the
administration played what may be
regarded as its last card today. 1t
reiterated in no uncertain fashion the
representations made to Mexico a
few days ago, that affairs like that
at Douglas and Aqua Prieta last week,
must not be repeated. Instead of
awaiting the customary period for a
formal reply from Mexico, the de-
partment asked for immediate assur-
ances that there be no more fighting
that endangered Americans in the
border towns. Information was also
requested as to what measures the
authorities had taken to prevent flu
ture combats OF this kind. A few
hours after the department an
nounced it had issued this second
demand. dispatches from Douglas be-
gan to come into the war department
showing that the second battle of
Aqua Prieta had begun. No reply had
been received tonight from the Mex
lean authorities.
The president plainly is worried.
He talked but little, the White House
folk said, about Mexico today, but the
bulletins that came through the war
department and through the press,
We're taken to him wherever he hap
pened to be and read Immediately.
He did not conceal the fact that he
was intensely interested.
The president had two important
conferences. He talked with Secre-
tary Knox in the afternoon and to-
night he had conference with Am
bassador Bryce of Great Britain. The
official explanation OF Mr.. Bryce's
visit was that he came TO talk about
the proposed arbitration treaty be-
tween the United States and England.
1t is practically certain that Mexi-
co figured in the conversation. II is
believed the ambassador explained to
Mr.. Taft the landing of the British
marines at San Quentin. Mex, last
week He was able to tell the presi
dent that the landing was made only
after Americans and British subjects
asked for protection,
In connection with Mr.. Bryces visit
a suggestion that there might be joint
Intervention in Mexico by the United
States and England was discredited.
1t was pointed out that any such Joint
Intervention would be construed as
an acknowledgement by the United
States that this nation Is unable to
handle the situation and that 1t
would be almost an abandonment OF
the Monroe doctrine.
President Taft has told callers that
he does contemplate sending n spe-
cial message to congress relating to
the condition OF affairs in Mexico. He
ate and house the confidential corre-
spondencs dealing with Mexico.
He feels that few, il any of these
who have been taken into his conf
denee. have failed to agree with him
that the movement of troops to Texas
was justified. He thinks that since
the leaders in congress have practi-
cally all the information he has, it is
their duty to take any further action.
The president himself has let it be
known that no United States troops
would cross the line unless authorized
by congress and Secretary of War
Dickinson confirmed that statement
tonight. No one doubts that inter-
vention wouid mean war. War in
Mexico, tho presidents advisers say,
would mean a conflict that would
rage for months, probably years The
topography of Mexico, the mountains,
the insufficient means of quick COM
munication and dozen other things
that must De figured would have to be
met
Intervention would mean a long
drawn-out struggle in which the
Mexican federals and the Mexican in
might soon be found fight
ing side by side. Furthermore, inter- |
vention would be likely to dissipate all
the good feeling that years of careful
diplomacy has created between the |
United States and the Latin American !
countries.
Third Assistant Secretary of State |
Hale said that Senor Manuel de "a
macona, the new ambassador from |
Mexico. would be presented to Presi- |
dent Taft at the White House on
Wednesday afternoon
One of the dispatches made public
at the White House from Colonel |
Skunk, commanding officer at Doug |
las. said three insurgents without |
arms, surrendered to us, and that
they are now being held as pris-
oners."
4 NJ a Al a