The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-04-29
VILLA PR0CLA|MS FRIENDSHIP
SAYS HE WAS NOT CONSULTED IN
DRAFTING CARRANZA NOTE.
Rebel General Comes to Border to
Show American People That lie is
Friendly and Will Not BE Dragged
into Tanglc by Hucrta.

forces, informed George c. Carothers,
special agent of the state department,
that he will decline to be dragged into
war with the United States by any
body.
Why" he smiled as he threw an
arm about the shoulder Of the gov
ernmcnt representative, "all Europe
would laugh at us if we went to war
with you. They would say that little
drunkard Huerta has drawn them into
a tangle at last"
villa said he was not consulted in
the drafting Of the Carranza note
transmitted to Secretary Bryan last
night, and which was regarded as
somewhat hostile In tone.
The rebel leader told Carothers
who reported the interview to the
state department tonight, that one of
the chief reasons 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 escort
behind him.
Carothers took supper with Villa
and canvassed the situation thor
oughly.
Honest said the rebel general
between mOuthfuls, Il hope the
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 a long time to
plished it at ALL
Villa said he had arranged with all
foreigners, except Spaniards, to ship
out their cotton from Torreon on
paying war tax, to which the for
eigners had agreed.
Robert V. Pesquira, Carranza's
confidential agent here, insisted today
that the note of his chief to Secre-
tary Bryan was not hostile, but was
tiations. He was expecting a reply
from Mr.. Bryan setting forth the
views of the state department.
The rebel position is that the
American troops should be withdrawn
from Mexican soil, Carranza recog-
nized as dc facto president or at least
as belligerent, and the punishment
of the individual Huerta and the other
individual offenders left to the rebels.
Carranza, if recognized, would not
hesitate to apologize and disavow the
acts of one whom he considers a
traitor
Il think his statement was fair and
frank" said PesQuiera. land by no
means threat of war;"
He was asked if the words used by
Carranza-"will drag us into an un-
equal warfare with dignity, but which,
until today, we desired to avoid"-
did not mean that Carranza at last did
desire war
"Not at ALL" he replied. 1T could
not mean that because l know that
my chief wants peace"
For time 1t was thought the
translation might be at fault and that
Carranza's Spanish really meant "but
to this very day we desire to avoid"
but careful examination of the orig
inal showed that the translation was
correct. 1t was made by Samuel Bel
don Pcsduiera and Carothers in con-
sultation. They carefully weighed the
meaning Of every word and phrase.
Pesquiera said as giving evidence
Of the peaceful intentions of the rebel
government, that Carranza had re-
fused number Of offers from federal
garrisOns to join him if he would take
the field against the United States.
ITO all Of these offers we have re-
turned negative roplies,' said Pres
quicra. I'VE can not join forces with
Huerta for any purpose"
Gen. Villa received reporters to-
night and made guarded replies to a
number Of questions.
Asked if foreigners would be pro-
tectcd. should the rebels be brought
into a war against the United States
he replied: "Our forces in an event
which will not come about would take
the opportunity Of proving to the
world that we are q civilized people
and capable of following all rules of
civilized warfare. l would give per-
feet guarantees to all neutral foreign
crs and am willing to vOuch for this
personally"
When asked whether he would Join
forces with Huerta in war against the
United States, he said
AS | have already stated, such an
event is improbable, but to answer