New-York tribune., 1911-04-18
IN RESPONSE TO AN APPEAL
Governor Sloan Asked Protection
for Innocent American Citi-
zens Pursuing Lawful
Avocations.
MR.. TAFT ADVISES PATIENCE
Intimates. However. That He
May Go to Extreme Lengths
if the Situation Does
Not Improve.

Washington. April 1I-president Taft
lied to = message from Governor
Richard y. sloan OF Arizona. asking
protection for citizens of Douglas from
the fir- of federals and insurgents, that
he was lo9th to ordsager Americans III
MEXICO by taking 60 radical a step as
sending American troops across tne
border 70 prevent further fighting.
The President. I'm his telegram 70 the
Governor. stated that the situation misnt
Justify hin, In ordering troops 10 cross
the border end attempt 70 stop the hght-
ing or fire upon both contestants from
the American side He hesitated 70 take
such ? step. however. because Of the pos
sibiity of resistance and greater blood
shed and the danger Of having his mo-
tives msconstrued and misrepreSented
and arousing Meyicans against many
thousands of Americans now In Mexico
and ieopardizing their lives and property.
In view of the conditions therefore.
the President felt that he could not
order the troops at Douglas to cross the
border. but he again emphasized the ao-
visa bility Of the people Of Douglas avoid
ing exposing themselves 10 flying bullets.
The message to the President was
dated Douglas. 1921 =. m. II wss as
follows:
The President. Washington:
As result Of 10 days lghtlns across
the international border but within gun \
shot range Of the heart Of Douglas. five
Americans were wounded on this side OF
the line. Everything points TO a repeu
tior of these casualties tomorrow ana
while the federals seem disposed 10 keep
their agreement not 10 fire into Ooueias'
! the poslton Of the insurrectionists
! such that when lighting occurs on the
east and southeast Of the intrenchments
people living in Douglas are put IN dan
| ger Of their lives.
| In nv Judgment radical measures are
| needed TO protect our innocent people.
and II ANYTHING can be done 70 stop the
! fighting at Aqua Prieta the situation
| calls for such action II IS impossfhte to
| safeguard tho people Of Douglas unless
the town can be vacated. Can anything
be done TO relieve the situation, which
| is now acute?
RI' HARD IL S'|OAN'
The reply Of the President, promptly
tran smitted. read:
Your dispatch received Have made
urgent demands upon Mexican govern
mert 10 Issue instructions 10 prevent fr-
| ing across border by Mexican federal
troops. and am awaiting reply. Mean
time I have sent direct warning to the
Mexcans and insurgent forces near
| Douglas.
| infer from your dispatch that both
parties attempted 10 heed the warning.
but that in the strained situation and
! cXigences of the contest WILD bullets
! still find their way into Douglas The
| situation might Justify me in ordering
our troops to cross the border and at
tempt 10 stop the lighting or TO fire upon
| both combatants from the American side.
| But if ] take this step I must face the
| possibility Of resistance and greater
bloodshed and also the danger Of having
| our motives misconstrued and misrepre-
sented. and of thus infiaming Mexican
popular Indignation against many thou
/ sands of Americans now Ia Mexico and
ieopardiZe their lives and property.
The pressure for general intervention
under such conditions IL might not be
practical to resist. II is impossible "a
| fOreSee or reckon the consequences or
such course and We must use the
greatest self-restraint to avoid II.
Pending my urgent representations t.
| the Mexican government | cannot. there
fore, order the troops at Douglas to cross
the border. but ] must ask YOU and the
local authorities In case the same danger
seems 10 threaten. to direct the people of
Douglas TO place themselves where bull
lots cannot reach them and thus avoid
casualties am loath 10 endanger Amer
leans in Mexico. where they are neces-
sarily exposed. by taking radical step
To prevent injury to Americans on our
side Of the border who can avoid II by d
temporary inconvenience.
w, II. TAFT.
The President found the Mexican sit
uation demanding his attention until a
late hour. The evening he had spent al
the theatre. Returning 10 the White
House ho plunged anew into considera
ton Of the problems confronting him.