Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1912-03-06
CITES DANGER IN
U. s. CONSPIRACY
Americans in Mexican Rebellion
Threatened With Arrest.
TAFT ISSUES WARNING EDICT
President Urges Residents in RevoIu-
tionary District to Withdraw From
Country-Interventi to Be
Avoided If Possible.

Washington, March 4.-The gravity
of the situation in Mexico caused
President Taft to issue a proclama-
ton virtually warning American citi
zens to refrain from entering that
country and those now resident there
to leave when conditions threaten to
become intolerable.
The proclamation was augmented
by telegram addressed by the state
department to Ambassador Wilson in
the City of Mexico. The ambassador
was instructed to inform Americans in
peril to withdraw across the border,
leaving their effects in the care of
the nearest United States consul.
Copies Of the telegram were sent also
to all consular agents.
Holds Rebels VioIators.
The presidents utterance, it was ex-
planned, was in no sense a recognition
CT the revolutionary movement in the
sister republic of the south. Neither
was it to be looked upon as a declara-
ton of neutrality. 1t was declared
the utterance was solely a warning
to Americans to avoid anything that
might SAVIOR Of partisanship in the
existing state of affairs.
The proclamation, which is inter
preted further as an expression of this
country's intention to avoid by every
possible means any chance Of inter
,yeation, is in part as follows:
whereas, serious disturbances and
forcible resistance to the authorities
of the established government exist
in certain portions of Mexico; and,
Whereas, under these conditions it
is the duty Of all persons within the
Jurisdiction of the United States to
refrain from the commission of acts
prohibited by the law thereto relat-
ing and subversive of the tranquility
of a country with which the United
States is at peace:
Threatened Prosecution.
I, William Howard Taft president
of the United States of America, do
hereby admonish all such citizens and
other persons to abstain from every
violation of the laws herein before re-
ferred to and do hereby warn them
that all violations of such laws will
be vigorously prosecuted; and I do
hereby enioin upon all officers Of the
United States charged with the execu-
ton of such laws the utmost diligence
in preventing violations thereof, and
in bringing to trial and punishment
any offenders against the same; and,
finally I do hereby give notice that
all persons owing allegiance to the
United States, who may take part in
the disturbances now existing in Mex
leo, unless in the necessary defense Of
their persons or property, or who shall
otherwise engage in acts subversive
of the tranquility of that country, will
do so at their peril, and that they can
in no wise obtain any protection from
the government of the United States
against the appropriate legal conse-
quences of their acts, in SO far as such
consequences are in accord with equit-
able justice and humanity, and the en-
lightened principles of international
law"
~ The instructions to Ambassador
Wilson, which were duplicated to the
United States consuls, follow:
Referring to all recent telegraphic
correspondence, you are now instruct
ed in your discretion to inform Amer
leans that the embassy deems it it's
duty to advise them to withdraw from
any particular localities where condi-
tions or prospects of lawlessness so
threaten personal safety as to make
withdrawal the part of common pru-
dence, specifying localities, if any,
from which withdrawal may at any
time seem advisable, and stating that
in many such cases consuls may take
such charge of abandoned effects as
may be possible under the circum-
stances"
State department officials insisted
that the issue Of the proclamation and
the dispatch of kilograms were not
the result of startling or sensational
developments in the Mexican situa-
ton. 1t was said they we're the re-
suit of many conferences in the last
few days and of long exchanges by
wire between the department and Mr..
Wilson in the City of Mexico.