New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-12-15
United States Sends
Special Agent to Warn
Rebel Leader.
WILL NOT CONDONE
HIS DEPREDATIONS
Situation Brought About by the
Rebels Conduct In Chihuahua
May Be Serious.
From The Tribune Bureau. J

Washington. Dec. IA special ageh'
OF the United States government mas
been ordered TO Chihuahua with all speed
| 10 Use his good offices with General
| Pancho Villa to stop the depredations
which Villas forces are committing y"
foreigners, notably wealthy Spaniaros,
many Of whom have been driven out Oh
| the country.
This agent is George G. Carothers'
American Vice-Consu at Torreon. MI
Carothers Is now on the way to El Paso'
where he is due tomorrow morning lie
will leave for Chihuahua at once by tram
II posslble: II not, by motor car. lie Is
personally acquainted with villa. and the
state DEPARTMENT hopes that he will in
duce the rebel leader TO cease his looting
OF foreign property.
Villa has already been told by the
American Consul at Chihuahua, on In
structions from the state Department
following a request from the Spanish Am
bassador here for assistance for Spanish
subjects at Chihuahua and elsewhere, that
any harm which might come 10 foreign
ers would create an unfayorable impress
TO capturing chihuahua villa promised
that he would respect the property OF all
foreigners, except those who aided ana
svmpathized with the Federals, whose
property. he said. would he given no con
sheraton
That Spanish subjects have taken part
In the revolution I'm any way or are IN
terested IN the politics OF the country
was vigorously denied TO The Tribune
correspondent to-day by Senior don Juan
Riano. the Spanish Ambassador
Some OF the Spanish subjects who I'VE
I'm Chihuahua" said Senior Riano. have
been there for thirty or forty years. en-
gagged in legitimate business enterprise.
They have no interests in Mexican poll
ties except that they want peace and or
der so that they may carry on their busi-
ness"
Senior Riano said that he had asked the
State Department Tor assistance In the
protection Of his people In Mexico. and
that the Secretary Of State was exceed
ingly kind and was doing all that ne
could. The diplomat spoke gratefully oil
the kind treatment Spanish refugees are
receiving In ~ Paso. The ambassador
thought as some officials Of the govern
ment believe. ths~ 1t was possible that
Villa was simply seeking 10 JUSTIFY MS
looting py declaring that the Spanish
subjects were Federal sympathlzers and
therefore not entitled to protection.
The phase OF the situation brought
about by Villas attitude toward the
Standards In chihuahua Is considered
very important. While the administra-
ton is kecnly anxious To get rid or
Huerta. and would not View his over
throw by the rebel forces with dis
favor. II will not condone the things
which villa seems 10 have been DO
ing IN the Spaniards. For this reason
a COMPLICATED situation will arise II the
rebels are Alally victorious and as
sumo control OF the government In Mex
lco city. FOR Villas conduct will pave
a certain bearing on the attitude Of
the United States toward tn" new
government
Thus far the American representa-
tions 10 villa have been iu the nature
~ friendly warming, although there
"a every evidence OF American displeasure
i'm Consul IetChcrs statement TO villa
that such conduct Will cause an I'M
favorable impression OF the Consutu-
tionalist cause.