South Bend news-times., 1915-08-14
CITIZENS IN MEXICO
ARE TO PLAY A PART
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tered along that part Of the country.
To Monterey and points near there
where telegraph wires are working.
the message went over the roads Iar-
ther south and throughout The interior
the message was being sent by courier
In some places couriers on mules car
ried the statement.
Urgent Appeal.
The appeal was prepared by Secy
of state Lansing and the diplomatic
representatives of Argentine. Brazli
chile Bolivia. Uruguay and Guatemala
and approved by Pres't Wilson. From
the best information obtainable II sets
forth that conditions in Mexico. hav-
ing continued over period OF sew
eral years without prospect Of early
abatement. warrant the United States
and sister republics in making an ur-
gent appeal that the various factions
lay down their arms and endeavor,
by other means, 10 restore peace.
The state department has reason to
believe that Villa, Zapata and many of
the governors of states, military COM
manders and prominent citizens will
agree to the plan proposed. Present
indications. however, are To the effect
that Carranza viii reject il.
Contains No Threat.
1t is rot believed that the appeal
contains any threat of action in case
the efforts TO induce Carranza to-
change his position meet with failure
but il is well understood in official cir
cles that the United States in such
contingency contemplates the estab
lishment of an embargo on arms and
ammunition for the constitutionalists.
There is a strong possibility also
that the United States. eliminating
Carranza from consideration, will en-
deAvor to bring about a convention of
all the other leaders. The provisional
president set UP by such convention. Ii
is understood. would be recognized
and would be permitted to receive
arms and ammunition without re
striction.
The efforts of some administration
officials TO create the impression that
Carranza will yield TO the Pan-Ameri-
can plan for peace in Mexico, received
n setback when the state department
! reluctantly admitted that there is not
a word in any of the dispatches re
ceived so far by this government from
its agents in Mexico to Dear out such
suggestion.
Attitude Indicated.
Taken in connection with Carranza's
refusal to permit his representatives in
/ Washington to confer with officials of
the Villa agency. this admission is ac-
cepted as indicating definitely and
! finally Cas-ranza's attitude of OppOsi-
/ ton.
The opinion expressed by many Off
cials here on the developments of the
past As hours is that no substantial
! progress has been made toward the
pacihcatiOn of Mexico. and that the
| general situation is practically the
same as it was two years ago.
The state department had notice
Friday for the first time of the Off
cial attitude of Gen. Villa. His secre-
! tary of state, DiaZ LOmbardO, tele-
graphed the Villa agency here to-
day the terms on which Villa would
participate in the conference.
| 1t appears that if the conservative
| element should dominate the convcn-
ton neither Carranza nor Villa would
abide by the result. 1t has been un-
derstOOd from Sec'y Lansing, however.
that the Cientifico would not be taken
into account in the new appeal. on
the other hand, it has been stated as
:, the opinion of the state department
that the revolution was successful
when the Madero government took
charge
See No Success.
The attitude of Carranza and the
Iapparent probability that the proposed
4 peace pdIleNs II IL nldleTldllLeS, VIII not
end successfully, are the basis for the
growing belief that the present plan
Will not advance the hopes of peace
for Mexico. 1t is pointed out that the
! United States could have recognized at
any time within the past two years any
one of the prominent leaders. placing
the moral and active support of the
| United States behind him and pro-
claimed an embargo against his enc
mies-the plan which. it is believed.
is now contemplated
Ell PASO, Texas. Aug. 14.-Gen-
eral CarranZa's reply to General Vii
las proposal of an armisric for dis
cusslOn of compromise by the Mex
lean factions was an order for an as
sault on TOrreon. Reports received
at Juarez today state that the Car
ranzistas have already begun their
attack on Villas defenses at Torreon.
Villa is expected to leave for the
south Immediately though he
claims that his forces at TOrreOn are
strong enough to repel the enemy.
Since his arrival at the border he has
sent TO TorreOn great quantities of
ammunition.
No details of the fighting at Tor
reon have been received here yet but
it is understood that the attacking
/ iCarranzistas number about $4,000
men. Villas defending army is be-
lieyed 10 contain $4,000