The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-04-22

and Property Without Further Au-
thOrity from Congress - Won't
Send Special Message, as Be-
lieves Party Leaders are Thorough
ly Enthusiastically Shows Worry
Over Conditions
Washington, April 17.-President
Taft felt tonight that he had doae
personally all that can be dons by
a Chief Executive to control the sit
uation along the Mexican border. He
and his advisers believe that now
Congress must say whether the sit
uation is grave enough to warrant
intervention and It's consequences.
Through the State department, he
played his highest card today. He
notified both sides of the Mexican
belligerents that the occurrences at
Douglas. Arizona. must not be re-
peated. Information was requested
also as to what measures the author
tiles had taken to prevent combats
of this kind.
"A few hours after the departm ant
announced that 1t had issued this
second demand, the dispatches from
Douglas began to come iato the war
department, showing that the second
battle Of Aqua Prieta had begun. To-
night. no reply had been reeciv-
ed from the Mexiacn authorities.
The President is plainly worried.
He talked but little. the White House
folks say, about Mexico today, but
the bulletins that came through the
war department and through the
press were taken to him wherever
he happened to be and were read
with interest. He did not conceal the
fact that he was intensely interested
in the news from Aqua Prieta.
The President had two important
conferences. He talked with SEC
retary Knox In the afternoon, and
tonight he had a conference with
Bryce, Of Great Brttaia.
The official explanation Of Mr.. Bryces
visit was that he came to talk about
the proposed arbitration treaty be-
tween the United States and Great
Britain. 1t Is practically certain,
however, that Mr.. Bryce figured in
the conversation.
Mr.. Bryce explai ned to the Presi-
dent the landing Of the British ma
rines at San Quintan. He stated
that the landing was only after
American, and it was explained that
Americans came first, and British
subjects asked for protection that
the British vessels Of war put the
marines ashore.
In connection with Mr.. Bryce's
visit, a suggestion that there might
be joi1t Intervention in Mexico by
the United States and England was
discrdited. 1t was reported that
any such joint Intervention would be
considered as al acknowledgment
by the United States that this nation
is unable to handle the situation and
that 1t would be almost an abandon
ment OF the Monroe doctrine.
President Taft told callers he does
not contemplate sending special
message to Congress relati 1g to the
condition Of affairs in Mexico. He
has shown to leaders OF both the
Senate and House the confidential
correspondence relating to Mexico.
He feels that few of those who
have been taken into his confidence
have failed to agree with him that
the movement of troops to Texas was
justified.
He thinks that since the leaders in
CO 1gress have practically all the in
formation he has, it is their dutv
to take any further action. The
President himself has let it be known
that no United States troops would
cross the line unless authorized bv
co 1gress and the Secretary of War
Mr. Dickinson, confirmed that state
ment tonight.
No one here doubts that interven-
tion would moan war. War in Mexi
co, thu Presidents advisers say would
mean conflict that would rage for
omnths, probably years. Thu top1-
graphy OF Mexico, the mountains. the
insufficient means of quick com
munication and a dozen other things
that must be figured, would have Ia