The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-12-21
PRESIDENT SENDS
SHARP PERSONA
NOTE TO MAOERQ|
He Warns Chief Executive o.
Mexico That Prompt Acc
ton Is Necessary
STOPS SHORT OF
WAR DECLARATION
No Time Limit Is Set With
Purpose of Prodding Slow
Moving Mexicans
Into Activity

WASHINGTON, Dec. 20.-PreoDs
dent Taft's ultimatum to Mexico wa1
teiegraphed today to Montgomety 81
Schuyler. Jr.. American chArGD
danfaires at the Mexican capital. -
the absence of Ambassador Henry
Lane Wilson.
The American note was not 80
dressed to the Mexican governments
but to Francisco /. Madero, pereOn~
ally. 1t Is couched in language -
vigorous as words can make 1t, short
of an actual declaration Of war.
1t was stated at the state depart
ment today that it was feared thae
President Madero did not quite undsF
stand the urgency Of the SeptemoeEs
note, which demanded punlshm0me7
for the murders of Americans ana
indemnity for the loss of Americas
life and property. In drafting tho
message sent today. care was taken
that its language be made unniD.
taxable. The. services. of Attorneys
Generay Wickersham was brought inS|
to assist the president and Secfo.
tary Knox in completing the draft
Although there is an impression|
ed to Madero by Ambassador VIII
/ son, and although the state departr
ment intimated today that the draft
has not been fully completed, TIN
International News Service has post.
tive information that the ultimatura
has already reached Mexico.
No Time Limit Set.
In the final warning to MadorU
no time limit was named In which
he Is to meet the demands OF the
| United States. The setting OF a limit
was avoided purposely In order th1tsI
the United States may not be pre-
cluded from prodding the reluctant
Madero from the time he reads the
ultimatum until he acts or disclOsoo
his inability to satisfy his ohliEa>
tons to the United States. Although;
not contained in the ultimatum ieS
will be strongly suggested to Ms
| dero that his reply to the Americans
note should be before the state do.
+, partment by the time President Taft
! returns from Panama. This will ~
| on January 1st.
| In addition to the reports fuxs
nished the president and stata d.
Smith and Albert B. Fall. and seys
eral citizens committees. Prestdouts
(, Taft was moved TO the SUMMARY
action of yesterday ty spec ! -
| Gently made by Made: in Mcxlc0a
in which he said thai tha only suit.
/, ferers from the Mexican disorders
were foreigners, and that MexicAnG
could well loos on the situatiom!
with eauanimity. -
! Stir in Washington.
Z The news o. the presidents ult1Al
nlatum created stir In WasliinEa
tor and general approval OF htoS
course Is expressed. Those whGs
( are familiar with conditions In thQs
! southern republic have long f0f6sa
seen that drastic action by this goNs
eminent was Inevitable
| While 1t is not apprehended thn&
there will be any immediate resG8~S
to arms by this country. the pre-
dent will be kept in touch with ca
state, war and navy departmeN1
and with the Mexican border On IT.
Panama trip. The Mexican trcuhE&
has been brewing so long that t<E
touching of button will be aul-
cient to entrain the forces OF f6
United States.
/ II the reply from Madero ID n61l
either immediate or satisfactory t11lSS
United tSates will probably carry O0G
the first step In its program IA
dropping the neutrality bars on t16|
Mexican border. ls
/ Arms and Ammunition. M
/ There is some criticism Of IT,
step. on the ground that It will lo1
to the pouring of arms and ammu&14I
ton into Mexico that may lator NGI|
used against the United States l
neither the Madero regime or y I
administration which may foil
persists In ignoring the deman4aA
F, this government. sa N
! II the ultimatum fails OF III m
i pose. 1t Ia probable. however,
President Taft and his advisors IA
first adopt the course OF rono1I
the neutrality restrictions n
! hope that q more stable and Co..
tent government In Mexico VIE
/; low this move.
1 Additional details ON cond1<
in Mexico were given today
George Fred Wiiliams. OF IT,
committee Of the senate cOmal
on foreign relations which ~
Investigating the Mexican 1ftua&
all summer. He told thru
story Of the dangers faced ~
tave e. TRACER. manager o. i
| near Almoyla. In which ~ tn
,,terested. He said that the fnA&s
mine has not already bean Aaet
has been due to Nhe bravef1
TRACER and one other AmNRiem
the works.
6onatoEp Go TFoG1G Il
i II II regnr0ed ~ a1GmtQ
the ulttma4Nm or thu A.