Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-06-21

| property about which the United
states Is solicitous and not the methods
, or ways In which that protection shall
be accomplished. IF the Mexican gov
this protection by preventing its ter
ritory from being the rendezvous and
reruSe of murderers and plunderers.
| That does not relieve this governmen,
from It's duty to take all the steps nee
essary to safeguard American citizens
| Oh American soil. The United States
government cannot and will not allow
bands of lawless men to establish
themselves upon its borders with lib
erty to Invade and plumber America n
territory with impunity and. whon pur.
sued, to see.s safety across the Rio
Grande. relying upon the plea Of their
government that the integrity OF tho
soil OF the Mexican republic must not
be violated.
1T 1T DOES CALI. POSSIRIE,w
IT IS NOT SUFFICIENT
The Mexican government further pro-
tests that 1t has made every effort
on Its part to protect the frontier"
and that 1t is doing "all possible to
avoid recurrence OF such acts.
If IT is doing "all possible" this is
not sufficient to prevent border raids.
ana there Is every reason. therefore.
why this government must take such
preventive measures as 1t deems suiii-
ciept.
1t is suggested that injuries suffered
on account of bandit raids are a mat
ter OF "pecuniary rcparation," but
never the cause for American forces
to Invade Mexican soil"
1t has grown 10 he almost n
custom not to settle depredations of
bandits by payments of money alone.
vent such crimes by swift and sure
punishment.
The de facto government finally ar.
cues that IF tho frontier were duly
protected from incursions from Mexico
there would no no reason for the exist
Ing difficulty; thus the de facto gov
eminent attempts to absolve itself from
the hrst duty OF any government. name
ly, the protection Of life and property.
The government OF the United
states does not wish to believe that
the dc facto government APPROVES these
marauding attacks, yet Rs they con-
tinue to he made. they show that the
Mexican government Is unable to re-
press them.
In conclusion. the Mexican govern
ment invites the United States TO sup
port It's assurances OF friendship with
real and effective acts" which "can lie
no other than tho Immediate with
uieNel VI tHc trOODB. For
these reasons 1 have herein fully Sc,
forth. this request Of the dc facto gov
eminent cannot now he entertained.
The United States has not sought the
duty which has been forced upon 1t OF
pursuing bandits, who. under funta-
mental principles OF municipal and in
terna'ional law, ought to be pursued
and arrested and punished by Mexican
authorities. Whenever Mexico will as
sumo and effectively exercise that re-
sponsihility the United States, AS It has
many times before publicly declared.
Will he glad to have this obligation full
hi!cd by the de facto government of
Mexico. If, on the contrary, the de
facto government Is pleased to ignore
this obligation and to believe that lin
case OF n refusal to retire these troops
there Is no further recourse than to
defend It's territor! by an appeal to
arms" the government OF the United
States would surely be Lacking in sin
certify and friendship IL 1t did no,
frankly Impress upon the de facto gov
eminent that the execution of this
threat Will lead to the grlvest con-
sequences. While this government
would deeply regret such n result, 1t
cannot recede from its settled determi-
nation 10 maintain It's national rights
and TO perform It's fun duty In prevent
Ing further invasions Of the territory
OF the United States and in removing
the peril which Americans along the