The searchlight., 1911-12-15

were about to enter upon Aosttifttes
because Of complications growing out
Of IN acrilnonious boundary dispute
which the enorts Of many years had
failed 70 solve The government Of
the. United States. by . friendly inter.
pce1tion q good o@ces. succes1ed In
prsvaili1g uopn ne parties "a place
their reliance uj6n some hrm q paci-
nc settlement Accordingly. on the
friendly svggestion of this goyern-
ment thp tive eovsp4en6 eulpow-
cred comntid6ioasrs b nest 4 Wash
ington in conference at the state do
partment IN order to arrange the
terms Of sdbulseaoa to arbitration Of
the boundary controversy.
chamtxai Arsisrssion Not Sssisssesory.
Our arbitration Of the Chamisai
boundary question with MEXICO was
unfortunately abortive. but with the
earnest efforts On the part Of both
governments which its importance
commands, It IL felt that an early
practical adjustment should prove pos
sible.
Mexico.
The recent political events IN Mexi-
CO received attention from this gov.
ernment because, Of the exceedingly
delicate and dimcult situation created
along our southern border and the ne
cessity for taking measures properly
to safeguard American interests. The
government OF the United States. In
its desire to secure a proper observ.
ance and enforcement Of the so-called
neutrality statutes of the federal gov
ernment, issued directions to the ap-
propriate officers to exercise q dill
gent and vigilant regard for the re-
quirements Of such rules and laws. Al
though a condition of actual armed
conflict existed. there was no omcial
recognition of belligerency involving
the technical neutrality obligations OF
international law.
On the 9Th of March last. in the ab-
sence Of the secretary Of state. had
a personal interview with Mr.. Wilson.
the ambassador of the United States
to Mexico. in which he reported to me
that the conditions In Mexico were
much more 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 very large
per cent. Of the people were In sym
pathy with the insurrection: that
general explosion was probable at any
time. In which case he feared that the
100000 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 secre-
tary Of war and the secretary Of the
navy. l thought 1t wise to assemble an
army division of full strength at San
Antonio. Tex. a brigade Of three regi-
ments at Galveston, a brigade Of In
fantry In the Los Angeles district Of
Southern California. together with q
squadron Of battleships and cruisers
and transports at Galveston. and q
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 apprehensions might result
from unfounded conjectures as to
these military maneuvers. and as
sured him that they had no signin-
canoe which should cause concern to
his government.
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 a let
ter addressed to the chief Of stan.
issued the following instructions:
1T seems my duty as commander
In chief to place troops In sufhcient
number where. II Congress shall di.
rect that they enter Mexico to save
American lives and property, an ef-
fective movement may 5e promptly
made. Meantime. the movement of the
troops to Texas and elsewhere near
the boundary. accompanied with sim
cere assurances of the utmost good
will toward the present Mexican gov
ernment and with larger and more
frequent patrols along the border to
prevent insurrectionary expeditions
from American soil. will hold up the
hands Of the existing government and
will have healthy moral effect to pre-
vent attacks upon Americans and
their property In any subsequent gen.
eral internecine strife. Again. the
sudden mobilization of a division of
troops has been q great test of our
army and full Of useful instruction,
while the maneuvers that are thus
made possible can occupy the troops
and their of1cers to great advantage.
The assumption by the press that
I contemplate Intervention on Mexican
soil to protect American lives or prop
erty Is Of course gratuitous. because
seriously doubt whether I have such
authority under any circumstances,
and II had would not exercise il
without express congressional ap-
proval. My determined purpose. how
ever. IL to be In a position SO that
when danger TO American lives and
L. :