The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1914-04-29
GENERAL VILLA FRIENDLY
says ne Rad Nothing to do With
Carranza's Statement

CarranZa's Statement
Ell Paso. April 23.-General Fran
cisco Villa, head of the rebel forces,
informed George c. Caruthers. spec
ial agent of the state department, that
he would decline to be dragged into
a war with the United States by any,
body.
"Why,' he smiled, as he threw an
arm about the broad shoulders of the
government representative. "all Eu-
rope would laugh at us II we went to
war with you. They would say that
the "little drunkard Huerta has drawn
them into tangle at last"
villa said he was not consulted in
the drafting of the Carranza note
transmitted to Secretary Bryan last
night, which was regarded as some.
what hostile in tone. The rebel lead.
er told Caruthers who reported the
interview to the state department to-
night, that one of the chief reasons
that he came to Juarez was to show
the American people that his attitude
was friendly, and that he did not fear
to trust himself on the border without
a military force behind him.
Caruthers took supper with Villa
and canvassed the situation thorough
ly while doing justice to an American
meal of salad, beef and potatoes, with
trimmings
Honest said the rebel general,
between mouthfuls, II hope you
Americans bottle up Vera Cruz so
tight they can't even get water into
it. Your admiral is doing something
it would have taken us long time
to accomplish, if we could have &C.
complished it at ALL
General Villa was supposed to be
bringing personal escort of 200 men
but to avoid provocative appearances
the general left most of them behind
at chihuahua, and appeared with only
his rs or 80 followers. On his arrival
he remarked: "What does the Unit
ed States want to pay any attention
to that drunken old ass, Huerta, for,
anyway"
Villa himself is a teetotaller.
Robert V. Pesqueira, Carranza's
confidential agent here, insisted to-
day that the note of his chief to Sec
retary Bryan was not hostile, but was
tiations. He was expecting a reply
from Mr.. B.yan setting forth the
views of the state department.
The rebel position is that the Amer.
ican troops should be withdrawn from
Mexican soil, Carranza recognized as
de facto president, or at least as a
belligerant, and the punishment of
the individual Huerta and other in
dividual offenders left to the rebels.
Carranza if recognized, would net
hesitate to apolozise and disavow the
acts of one whom he considers a
traitor.
81 think his statement was fair and
frank" said Pesqueira, "and by no
means threat of war;"
He was asked if the words used by
Carranza, twill drag us into an un-
equal war with dignity, but which
until today we desired to avoid" did
not mean that Carranza, at least, did
desire war.
"Not at ALL" Pesqueira replied. ut
couldn't mean that, because l know
that my chief wants peace"
Pesqueira said, as giving evidence
of the peaceful intentions of the rebel
government, that Carranza had re-
fused several offers from federal gar.
risons to join him If he would take
the field against the United States.
ITO all of these offers we have re-
turned negative replies" said Pes
queira. 1--WE cannot join forces with
Huerta for any purpose"