The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1913-08-27
President Wilson Reads His
Special Message to Con-
gress at Joint
Session.
WARNING is ISSUED
Factions Can Fight it Out But
They Must Not Harm
Americans or Get
Arms Here.

limited Press Leased Wire Service
WASHINGTON, Aug. 27.-President
Wilson played his trump card on the
Mexican situation today when he ap-
peared before the Joint session OF
congress to read his message which
advised:
That all Americans BIO earnestly
urged to leave Mexico at once.
That Mexico be Informed summary
punishment would be made II Amerl-
can lives are outraged.
That he deems It his duty to let
the varlous Mexican factions fight out
their troubles.
That he must prohibit tho ship
ment Of arms to both federaIs and
rebels to Insure strict neutrality by
the United States.
Failure OF the negotiations Of Spec
lal Envoy John Lind was reported by
the president, but he said the door
was not closed to resumption of peace
lovertures
The president regards the situation
i as critical. His address breathed
friendship for Mexican people hut an
iextreme peRssInssstsn outlook for ,tiae
restoration OF peace because OF
Huerta's rejection Of the mediation
plan. In part the president said.
ut is clearly my duty to lay before
| you very fully and without reservation
the facts concerning our present rela-
tions with the republic OF Mexico The
deplorable posture of affairs in Mexico
need not describe but / deem It my
iduty to speak very frankly on what
this government has done and should
seek to do in fulfillment OF its obliga-
tfons to Mexico herself as friend and
neighbor and to American citizens
whose lives and vital interests are
daily affected by the distressing con
ditions which now obtain beyond our
southern border
meanwhile what is 1t our duty to
do? Clearly everything that we must
do must be rooted In patience and
done with calm and disinterested
jdeliberation. Impatience on our part
would be childish and would be
fraught with every risk on wrong and
folly. We can afford to exercise the
self restraint Of a really great nation
which realizes its own strength and
scorns to use it. Our duty is to offer
our active assistance.
1T is now our duty to show what
true neutrality will do to enable the
people of Mexico to set their affairs
in order again and wait for further
opportunity to offer our friendly coun.
Gil. The door is not closed against
resumption either upon the initiative
Iof Mexico Or uron our own effort tc
bring order out of the confusion BY
friendly cooperative action, should
the fortunate occasion offer.
While we wait, the contest OF the
rival forces will undoubtedly for q
little while be sharper than ever just
because it viii be plain that the END
must be made of the existing situation
and that very propmtly and at the
increased activity Of the contendine
factions will come, Is TO be feared, in
creased danger to the non-combatant
In Mexico as well az 10 those actual
" In the field Of battle. The policy
Of outsiders is always particulars
trying and full of hazard where there
is civil strife and the whole country
upset. We should earnestly urge al
Americans to leave Mexico at once
and should assist them to get away IT
every way possible-not because We
would mean to slacken in the leas1
our efforts to safeguard their lives ant
interests but because it is imperative
that they should take no unnecessar,
risks when it is physically possible
flor them to leave the country. WI
, should let every one who assumes tt
exercise authority in any part O.
Mexico know IN the most unequivoca
, way that we shall vienantly watcl
: the fortunes Of those Americans wht
} cannot get away and shall hole
! these responsible for their suffering
and losses to definite reckoning
That can be and viii be made plail
: beyond a possibility Of mtsunder
standing.
For the rest deem II my duty t
exercise the authority conferred upo