The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-12-29
SEEKS MORE DELAY.
Carranza Has Not Flatly Repudiated
Protocol.

! Washington, Dec. 2g.-One more ap-
peal for modification of the protocol pro-
viding for the withdrawal of American
troops from Mexico is made by General
Carranza in message delivered to Sec
retary Lane Yesterday by Luis Cabrera,
chairman OF the Mexican members of the
| joint commission.
The Mexican first chief replied to the
| insistent American demand that the pro-
tocol signed by his spokesmen at At
lantic City be ratified with an 500 word
document in which he failed TO accede to
the demand, but refrained from writing
anything that could be construed as a
| fiat reputation.
The latest suggestion now will be con
sidered by the three American represen-
tatives-Secretary Lane, j. r. Mott and
Judge George Grey.
Early next week joint session of the
Mexican American commission will be
held at which the Americans will give
the Mexicsns their answer and on its
nature depends the future course of the
commissioners, who were directed more
than four months ago to effect II pos
sble the adjustment of questions at is
sue between the two countries.
Ii was learned that the Mexican com
missioners We're confident that no in
superable barrier had been raised by
Carranza. 1t wa asserted that the ut
most care had been exercised to keep out
OF the reply any expressions of sentiment
that might make the situation more COM
plex or that would in any way offend
the representatives of the American gov
ernment.
The chief insistence of Carranza has
been that the American troops should be
Withdrawn Internationally, which the
American commissioners would not con-
slider. 1t was indicated that Carranza's
insistence on that point was less pro-
nounced now and that the change had
been wrought largely by the altered mill
tary situation in northern Mexico.
There appeared reason to believe that
one of the conditions to which Carranza
now objects is that under which he would
be obliged to garrison the territory va
Gated by the Americans as they marched
out. 1t was pointed out that since the
protocol was drafted the increased activ-
tiles of Villa and the steady growth OF
his army of bandits has made it difficult
for Carranza to agree to use any con-
siderable part of his army in the district
now occupied by Pershing when it might
be necessary to use the same force in
meeting more active moves of Villa at
other points.
Carranza holds that his government is
doing all it humanity can to restore or
der in the north and that it will continue
TO do SO, but that the presence of the
American troops on Mexican soil is max
ing the task more difficult by giving
Villa and his lieutenants a pretext for
urging the disaffected to join him in his
fight against Carranza.
An interesting development in the
Mexican situation generally was present
ed yesterday in reports to the state and
war departments of the changing condi
tions i'm Mexico. When the commission
ers adjourned in Atlantic City there were
few administration officials who believed
Carranza's power was seriously menaced.
Since then official reports have shown
a strength in the different reaetionary
groups that now is recognized as dan.
gerous.
The report persisted yesterday that
Ambassador Designate Arredondo had
been recalled by his government and that
he was to be succeeded by Consul De
Negri of San Francisco, who would be in
charge without diplomatic rank. Mr..
Arredondo denied the story categorical
ly and the state department was with
out information.