The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-09-11
C0nstituti0nalist Chief Ex- ceedingly Polite in Word ing of Reply, But All Pro- posals Are Rejected
WILL SOON RESTORE PEACE, DECLARES THE
 LEADER OF MEXICANS
Pan-American Diplomats Invited to Join in Confer
 ence on Frontier to Dis
 cuss International Phases

Vera Cruz, September 10.-General ve nustiano Carranzas reply to the appea of the United States and the Latin-Amer ican countries for conference betweer the leaders of the various factions hay. ing in view an adjustment of Mexicos in, ternecine struggle, is polite but unequiv. oca! mo"
 In note issued by Foreign Minister Acuna, General Carranza told the diplo. mats that he can permit no interference whatever by foreign governments He ex. plains that he Is in control now of an Mexico except the states of Chihuahua and Morelos and part of the state of sonora. The signers of the note to Car ranza are invited to come themselves. or to send representatives, to some point along the Rio Grande for conference at which the affairs of Mexico may be dis cussed solely from an international point or view and with the idea that Carran- ga s government be recognized as the de- facto government in Mexico.
 The diplomats are told that the first chief of the constitutionalists now com mands an army of 15O,OOO men; that the functions of public service have been re- stored the railways repaired and rail- way traffic resumed. The note adds that in the fields and the cities there have been reborn the activities of normal life. Stress is laid on the assertion that soon the entire country will be at peace.
 Actuated by High Motives
 The reply insists that the first chief Is actuated by the. highest motives in declining to participate in the conference. It is stated that the fact that the rev oiutionists had entered into a pact at Juarez with the old government was one of the weaknesses of President Francisco l. Madero's arrangement for the rehe bil- itation of Mexico and that this Alleged trafficking with the opposition was one or the reasons of this disa agreement that eliminated in the tragic battle in Mex .co City Tn February, 1913. Incidentally, it IS stated In the note, that some foreign diplomats were involved in that affair
 The reply of General Carranza explains that conference with any .conquered faction would mean the sacrifices by Carranza of the chieftaincy of the army and his executive power and a betra va i or the faith and confidence now reposed in his by the people and the army. That Carranza represents the army in making such reply Is indicated in a paragraph or the note in which the diplomats are told that they will be able to observe from the answers they receive to their notes from the military chieftains and the civil subordinates of Carranza that -af ah i,f t- could decide and who, in fact does de eide matters submitted to them.
 The reply of General Carranza was handed to John R. Silliman, President Wilson's representative in Mexico at noon today.
 Text of Reply
 The text of the reply was:
 "Messrs: Ministers:
 Having informed General venustiano Carranza, the first chief of the consti- nationalist army. in charge of the execu tive power of the union, of your note. which you signed in your official capaci- ties and addressed to him under date of August 15. last inviting him to a con- ference with the chiefs of the rebel party to consider the Mexican situation and re- establish peace. I have seen fit to ad- dress your excellencies, as in fact, have the honor to do, to inform you in the name of the first chief of the constitution alist army, in charge of the executive power of the republic. that he cannot consent that the interior affairs of the republic be handled by mediation or by any initiative of any foreign government, inasmuch as all have the right to re- spect the inalienable right of the sov- ereignty of nations. and since, upon the acceptance of the invitation of your ex- cellencies. addressed to him. to attend conference with the chiefs of the rebel factions with view of returning peace to Mexico. he would impair profoundly the independence of the republic and would establish the precedent of foreign inter- ference in the determination of its in- terior affairs, this consideration alone sufficing in prohibiting our government from participat ting in the legitimate de- fense of the sovereignty of the Mexican people and of the other American na- tions.
 In Thr0es of Revolution
 Apart from this Fundamental req son there are other reasons which I do not wish to pass without mention. in order to produce in your minds the intimat te conviction that the conduct of the first chief of the constitutionalist army in charge of the executive power of the na-
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