Evening star., 1915-09-10
|CARRANzA'S REPLY
ISST|LL MISSING
Refusal to Enter Peace Con-
ference and Demand for
Recognition Expected.
FIRST CHIEF TO CONTEND
HE CONTROLS COUNTRY
Probably Will Offer to Mediate In
ternational But Not Internal
Mexican Affairs.

Secretary Lansing had not received at
the State Department this afternoon
the expected reply from Gen. Carrsn1a
to the peace proposals for Mexico made
by the pan-American diplomats, ana
there was no information obtainaole
as to when the document might ar
rive.
It was said in Washington today.
however, that the reply, when it Is re-
ceived, will be a courteous refusal to
enter into peace negotiations: that Gen.
Carranza again will make request for
recognition of his so-called govern
ment by the United States. and that
he will compare his position to that OF
the northern American army toward
the close Of the civil war in the United
States.
Gen. Carranza in his reply, 1t was
learned here today, will agree to dis
cuss any International aspects Of the
Mexican situation, but will decline to
enter a conference on Internal anairs.
Carranza's main contention, 1t Is said.
will be that his forces are IN practical
control of the country and that to en-
ter into such a conference would have
no beneficial effect.
But Carranza will declare. however.
that he does not wish to ignore the
friendly interest Of the United States.
Argentina, Brazil. Chile. Bolivia, Uru-
quay and Guatemala
Questions at Issue.
It is pointed out by American onicials
that there are international as we'll as
internal questions in the Mexican stu
alton that need consideration and ad-
justment. One is whether Carranza Is
81 %
lection to life and property and an
other concerns payment Of claims OF
foreigners growing out of the revoIu-
tion.
At the mediation conference at
Niagara Falls last year Carranza de-
Mexico, but offered to enter the con-
ference to consider international ques-
tions.
His proposal was rejected on the
ground that he could not be permitted
to limit the scope Of the mediation. 1t
have changed. and that the pan
American conferees are in no sense a
commission.
Talks Over Situation.
Mr. Ca1deron. the Bolivian minister,
one Of the pan-American peace con-
ferees, returned to Warrington yester-
day and had an informal talk about
the Mexican situation with Secretary
Lansing. and the other pan-American
diplomats are expected to gather in
Washington within a day or two, and
to take action. on. Carranza's reply
when It IL received.
Villa .Evacuates To1reon.
State Department advices are to the
effect that Gen. Villa has evacuated
Torreon. that place being the objective
Of the Carranza army moving north
ward. If this is true, it is said. Car
ranzas forces will probably be led
northward to Chihuahua before there
is any decisive engagement, and the
battle that was expected to settle the
military situation to a considerable ex-
tent is not likely to take place ib-
mediately.
It was suggested that Gen. Villa has
purpose1y abandoned rorreon. to draw
at Tampico as far as possible. Whether
the Carranza troops will follow Is not
known.
Durango is also reported taken By
the Carranza forces. but the Villa
agency here has given out 4 statement
from Diaz Lombardo. Villas minister Of
foreign relations, saying: 'The boasts
Of the Carranzistas Of victories in the
north must be discounted by the fact
that the places they claim to have cap
tured were purposely undefended by
the villa forces on account Of with
drawal Of garrisons for more impor-
tant operations elsewhere"
villa Victory reported.
Reports from Mazatlan said that the
city Of Topic has been retaken by the
villa forces under Gen. Estrada and
that 1000 carranza troops were de-
feated. Other advices to the depart
ment confirmed reports of the killing
Of Gen. Colorado. Carranza governor in
the state Of Tabasco, in a recent up
rising.
The department also had a report
from Nogales which said that in spite
Of repeated warnings to remain out
Of Sonora until normal conditions are
restored, a considerable number Of
American miners, hide and cattle buy
ers, prospectors, etc, continue to go
into Sonora from Arizona"