Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1915-03-12
CarranZa In Reply TO Note
Defends General Obreqon
NERA CRUZ, Mexico, March 10

NERA CRUZ, Mexico, March 10
Y The following is the text of Gen
eral Carranza's reply to the note Of
Secretary Of State Bryan delivered by
United States Consul Silliman:
although the terms in which this
note is worded would afford me cause
for not answering it is my wish, not
withstanding, that my silence be not
construed as a justification of charges
contained in the same. l have tried
to put aside for the moment refer
ences which are made to my personal
responsibility and looking only for the
good of my country and for the bene-
fit of the cause which the Mexican
people have entrusted to me, l
thought it my duty to answer at
once.
"On the other hand, in view of the
importance of the subject discussed
in the aforesaid note, l have thought
myself authorized not to follow this
time customary channels, but to ad-
dress you president WILSON, person.
ally concerning a matter which may
involve the success of the Mexican
revolution. In the note | am answer
ing it is taken for granted that the
imputations made against General
Obregon by an international commit
tee of foreign residents in the City Of
Mexico, the substance Of which also
has been communicated to me by Mr.
Silliman in his note of the first in
stance, are true and this assumption
has been INDUCED in when the answer
to those imputations was being pre-
pared.
"Reseving the privilege of answer
ing more fully and in detail through
the customary diplomatic channels
the note referred to lately, / take this
opportunity TO state In an earnest and
emphatic way that General ObregOn
never has intended to incte the hun
cry populace of the City of Mexico to
commit outrages of any character. He
has not prevented in any way the en-
trance Of food supplies into Mexico
City, but on the contrary has facili-
tated such importatiOns. He has not
created wilfully the distressing con-
ditions which prevail at present In
Mexico City but has done everything
in his power to alleviate them.
Result of War.
such a situation is the consequence
of a painful but unavoidable state Of
war in which we are and which for
the first time really has reached
Mexico City, but it has been ag-
gravated by the conduct Of the mer-
chants who were openly defiant and
with concert of action closed their
commercial esta blishments in mo-
ments of greatest public distress as a
protest against the humanitarian re-
lief tax which General Obregon i'm
posed.
During all this time large amounts
of food supplies have been taken into
Mexico City and large quantities Of
supplies have been distributed among
the distressed people. other important
measures also have been taken looking
to further relief which l will mention
in detail at the proper time.
"While II is proper to state TO your
excellency that the right TO occupy or
to evacuate Mexico City or any other
place in the republic, must at all
times be reserved and is TO be exer-
cised when deemed by the responsible
military authorities to be in further
ance OF the cause of the revolution,
the obligation on the constitutonalist
army TO safeguard the lives OF foreign
ers is nevertheless fully understood
and realized. You will therefore per-
init me TO assure you that at the time
Of the evacuation OF Mexico City every
facility within my power will be Of
fUrded to all foreign residents IN that
city 70 depart the country or to go TO
other and safer places In the republic
Il always have tried to give and