Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-05-08
RAISE EMBARGO,
is PLEA OF VILLA
General Says Restrictions Are
Only Delaying His March
on Capital.
CITES REBEL SUCCESSES
Points to Easy Victories When He Had
Plenty Of Ammunition for
His Men.

Torreon, Mexico, May S.-A plea for
the lifting of the embargo on arms as
the swiftest and surest method of
bringing peace to Mexico was made in
an interview today by Gen. Francisco
Villa, general in chief of the Constitu-
tionalist army.
THE embargo is protracting this
struggle uselessly and is placing bur
! den on the whole of Mexico which can
serve no good" he said. 81 hope the
American government understands
that the placing of the embargo is in
terfering seriously with the plans of
the Constitutionalists. See what we
did in the brief time the embargo was
lifted. Gomez Palacio. Torreon, San
Pedro de las Colonias, and even Mon
terey were Constitutionalist successes
due to the lifting of the embargo.
Must Have Arms to End War.
Mexico must be pacified and should
be pacified quickly. We cannot gain
this end quickly while we SITTER from
lack of ammunition.
I'VE can continue this struggle
for better social and economic condi-
lions in Mexico by capturing our am
mutton from the enemy, as we have
done largely in the past, but such a
method would necessarily drag the
war over a long period.
II believe, therefore, that every hui
manitarian consideration argues for
the lifting of the embargo. The SOON
er we can secure the arms and am
munition we need the sooner the coun- |
try will be pacified and normal condi- !
tons restored. / am sure the Ameri- |
can people will have no difficulty in |
understanding this"
Wants Americans to Return.
After reviewing the aims of the Con-
stitutionalists, Gen. Villa said of his |
attitude toward the United States and
Americans in the event that hostilities
should ensue between the two coun-
tries:
Il wish you would make it clear to |
the people of the United States that l
am anxious for all Americans connect
ed with industries in Mexico to return
and again take up their pursuits.
81 wish to add that the foreigners
now in Mexico and those who return
will have nothing to fear should it ev-
er come to war between Mexico and
the United States, and l give my word
that everything possible would be
lone by me to protect them. Should .
hey desire to leave the country in -,
such an event, l would place enough
'olling stock at their disposal to take d.
hem and all their movable property
,ut of Mexico
Foolish to Fight Over a Drunk?
Gen. Villas face was serious as he r
made this statement, which he en- r
'hasized with vigorous gestures, bIS
IS he concluded his face broke into a
mile and he said:
But why talk of war with the Uni
ed States? 1t would be extremely L
oolish for two reasonable and intelIi- ]
ent men to fight over a drunken man. g
nd would it not be the height of folly n
or the United States and Mexico TO
ONE 10 blows over a man like HUI
rita? 1t seems to me that the entire T
lvilized wourld would laugh should
his come to pass" I
Gen. Villa reiterated his belief in A
he good will of the American people o,
)ward Mexico =,
After ALL" he said. "our interests c,
re mutual a boundary is only an w
Imaginary line of political import. So o,
ally and economically the Rio ~,
rande has never proven a stiff bar \,
er TO the nations separated by it.
'ieVe tlat al. frightened Americans
nd Mexicans take this stand. / know
do. A
MeSicans Would Defend Country. Ut
however, there is much in SOW I'll
eighty. The MeXicans would re- WI
ain MeNicans just as the Americans or
efer to remain Americans. For that ed
ason we MeXicans would defend our in
untry TO the last WI
take the liberty to say that be- an
re war between the United States tt
d Mexico would be terminated. few DO
eAlcahs would be left alive. 1t is ha
I every American who believes this. ce
dare say that Americans who
We lived in Mexico will agree with
that the Mexican loves his coun- NJ;
as much as the man of any other fir
"ouiu not De good citizen re-
ne ala not. But am now and always n
We been for peace" III,
zen. villa told of the efforts he was 60,
KING in preparation for an effective h.,
hpaign against Saltillo and San
Is Potosf. He dwelt on the fart :
1t the majority of the Is. 900 men be
'iewed yesterday were mounted and =.
oke enthusiastically of the fine l-o
aracter OF their mounts. res