The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1911-12-08
mands 1t is felt that an early practical
adjustment should prove possible.
LATIN AMERICA.

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ence. The United States sent. In honor
Of this event. a special embassy to
Caracas. where the cordial reception
and generous hospitality shown It were
most gratifying as a further proof Of
the good relations and friendship ex-
listing between that county and the
United States.
Mexico.
The recent political events In Mexico
received attention from this govern.
meut because Of the exceedingly deli
cate and dinicult situation created
along u southern border and the me-
cessity for taking measures properly
to safeguard American interests. The
government. of. the United. States, in
its desire to secure a proper observance
and enforcement Of the so called neu-
trality statutes Of the federal govern
ment, issued directions to the appro-
pirate officers to exercise a diligent
and vigilant regard for the require.
ments Of such rules and laws. Al
though a condition Of actual armed
conflict existed, there was no oficial
recognition Of b~elligerency involving
the technical neutrality obligations Of
international law.
On the 9Th Of March last, In the alb
ssncs Of the secretary Of state. I had
a personal interview with MI. Wilson.
the ambassador Of the United States
to Mexico, In which he reported to me
that the conditions In Mexico were
much moro critical than the press dis.
patches disclosed; that President DiaS
was on a volcano Of popular uprising;
that the small outbreaks which had
occurred were only symptomatic Of
the whole condition; that a very large
per cent Of the people were in SYM
pathy with the Instruction; that a
general explosion was probable at any
time, In which case he feared that the
10000 or more American residents In
Mexico might be assailed and that
the very large American Investments
might be injured or destroyed.
After q conference with the secretary
Of war and the secretary Of the navy
I thought It wise to assemble an army
division Of full strength at San An
tonic, Tex. a brigade Of three regi-
ments at Galveston, q brigade Of In
fantry In the Los Angeles district Of
southern California, together with a
squadron Of .battleships and cruisers
and transports at Galveston and a
small squadron Of ships at San Diego.
At the same time. through our repre-.
sentative at the City Of Mexico, I ex.
pressed to President Diaz the hope
that no approximations might result
from unfounded conjectures % to
these military maneuvers and assured
him that they had no Significance
which should cause concern to his gov.
eminent.
The mobilization was effected with
great promptness. and on the 18th Of
March, through the secretary Of war
and the secretary Of the navy. in q let
ter' addressed to the chief Of stat ]
issued the following instructions:
ut seems my duty az commander In
chief to place troops in sufficient mum
Der where II congress shall direct that
they enter Mexico to ave American
lives and property an effective move.
ment may DO promptly made. Mean.
time the movement Of the troops ia
Texas and elsewhere near the bound.
airy, accompanied with sincere assur'
ances Of the utmost good will toward
the present Mexican government and
With larger aud more frequent patrols
along the border to prevent insured.
tionary expeditions from American soil,
will hold up the hands Of the existing
government ana will have a healthy
moral effect to prevent attacks upon
Americans and their property in any
subsequent general internecine strife.
Again. the sudden mobilization Of q
division Of troops has been q great test
Of our army and full Of useful instruc'
ton. while the maneuvers that are
thus made possible can occupy the
troops and their officers to great ad'
vantage.
1.-THE assumption by the press that
contemplate Intervention on Mexican
soil to protect American lives or prop,
erty is. Of course, gratuitous, because
seriously doubt whether have such
authority under any circumstances,
and If I had I would not exercise II
without express congressional approx:
al. Indeed. as you know, I have al
ready declined without Mexican con-
sent to order a troop Of cavalry to pro
tect the breakwater We are construct
ing Just across the border In Mexico al
the mouth Of the Colorado river to
save the Imperial valley, although the
iusurrectos had scattered the Mexican
troops and were taking our horses and
supplies and frightening our workmen
away. My determined purpose, how.
ever, is % be in a position so that
when danger to American lives and
property in Mexico threatened and the
existing government In rendered help.
less by tho instruction I can promptly
execute congressional orders to protect
them with effect.
Meantime I send you this letter,
through the secretary. to call your At
tention to some things in connection
with the presence of the division in the
southwest which have doubtless DC.
Cured to you, but which I wish to
emphasize.
"In the hrst place, I want to make
the mobilization a first class training
for the army, and I wish you would
give your time and that Of the War
college to advising and carrying out
maneuvefs Of a useful character and
plan to continue to do this during the
next three months. BY that time we