Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1912-12-24
CAUTION SHOWN
OVER MEXICO
State Department Carefully Prepar-
ing Brief to Settle Deli
H. @.s cate Problem.
WILL COMPEL THE ACTION
Senate Committee Investigating Re-
ports of Violence Suffered
by Americans.

Washington, D. c., Dec. I'll
Henry Lane Wilson, the American
ambassador to Mexico, who has been
here in conference with state de-
partment officials regarding condi-
lions growing ont of the Mexican
revolution, left yesterday for New
York preparatory for sailing for his
post without the expected note OF
representations which this govern
ment is preparing to be sent to the
Mexican government demanding
protection for American citizens and
property.
This action is taken as a further
| evidence of the intention of the ad-
ministration to deal with this deli
cate and difficult situation with cir
cumspection and in spirit of de-
| Liberation. The communication is
now being prepared with the great
est care at the state department and
will be transmitted to the American
ambassador shortly after his arrival
in Mexico City in January.
The deliberation with which the
officials are moving in the case OF
the United States versus Mexico is
expected to result in the production
of the brief that is expected to be
we'll nigh unanswerable except by a
promise of prompt and adequate ac-
ton on the part of the Mexican gov
eminent to meet fairly and fully the
demands of the United States in the
matter of the protection of the
American interests in Mexico.
| Justification for this demand by
the United States government is de-
clared to be found in the numerous
reports to the state department from
every quarter to the general effect
that conditions in Mexico have
grown worse since the dispatch OF
Secretary Knox's note of protest last
September, and that there has been
a marked increase in brigandage
and in the kidnapping of Americans
for ransom and in the levying OF
forced war loans by the rebels on
American mines and plantations.
Senator Stone of Missouri, who is
member Of the foreign relations
committee, issued statement yes
terday in which he expressed the
opinion that the present administra-
ton should leave the American sit
uation Gin statu quo until Governor
Wilson assumes the presidency"
The senate subcommittee on for
eign relations which has been en-
gagged in Investigating conditions
along the Mexican border held a
meeting yesterday to afford an OPP
portunity to George Fred Williams
OF Boston to lay before it number
OF letters bearing on the situation.
Mr.. Williams is president Of the Los
Angeles Smelling and Refining COM
pany, which has extensive proper
ties fifty miles from Toluca. in the
state of Mexico. The letters present.
ed were from Mr.. Traeger, mana
ger of the Los ARGOS company and
described a condition of continued
turbulence and battling with ban
dts for the last four or five months.
Mr.. Traeger declared that the
soldiers which were sent to his as
sistance by the government last No
vember had been withdrawn, leav-
ing the important mining centers Of
Zacualpan and Sultepec and the sur
rounding country entirely unguard-
ed. a
He said that last August pitch
eded battle was fought with the ban
dts in Zacualpan, in which the
mine and its buildings were burned
and everything ruined that could
not be carried away and mining
engineer, a Mr.. Plat, was taken
prisoner. Afterward Mr.. Platt es-
capped and upon information suppl
ed by him Treager took the govern
ment soldiers to the scene of trouble
and defeated the bandits in pitch
ed battle Since, however, the
soldiers have been removed and the
manager has been left in an unpro-
tected position.