Arizona republican., 1916-06-01

on Columbus, New Mexico, explained | by Francisco Villa, at dawn of March | 9 last.
 "The Mexican government sincerely | lamenting the happening and with the | idea of efficiently protecting the from tier, proposed that the governments l of Mexico and the United States col laborate in an agreement by which 1 bandits might be punished. Further more, the Mexican government made this proposition guided by precedents prevailing between 1880 and 1884 and concertly asked permission that Mexi- can forces might cross the American frontier in pursuit of bandits under the reciprocal agreement and that like permission will be granted the forces of the United States should a case similar to that of Columbus be re- peated at any other point along the frontier line. As a consequence of this proposition, made in the Mexican note of March 10, the United States govern inert through error and precipitation, thought tnat the good intention of the Mexican government was sufficient to authorize it 10 cross the frontier and without awaiting formal agreement or dered large party Of Americans to enter Mexico in pursuit of Villa and his party. Because of this act, the Ameri- can government made most emphatic protestations that it was acting in good faith and that it's only purpose in crossing the line was to pursue, cap ture or destroy the Villa band and that the act did not signify an invasion of our territory nor an attempt to vio- l late the sovereignty of Mexico and that as soon as practical result was shown by the expedition the American troops would be withdrawn from Mexican territory.
 The Mexican government had no knowledge that American troops had crossed the border until March F, and this came from private sources in Fl Paso. This government then di- iected note to the American govern ment stating that inasmuch as no for
 nal agreement had been entered into | between the two governments, the Americans could not be considered as authorized to send such an expedition.
 'The Washington government ex- plained the purpose of such an expedi- tion saying that it regretted the atti- tude of the Mexican government re- garding the passage of troops across the frontier in pursuit of Villa and
 that it was done in the understanding
 that the former interchange of notes
 plainly implied the consent of the Mex
 ican government without further for
 malities.
 "The government of the United
 -I,. o1.z
 was taken in view of the necessity for
 rapid action and explained it's willing ness to receive any suggestions of the Mexican government relative to a for
 nal agreement for the crossing of the
 international line by forces of either country.
 Both governments then hastened tC define terms of an agreement, two
 projects of the Mexican government and two counter projects of the Amer ican government being exchanged. In
 discussing the project the Mexican government insisted strongly that the operation of troops in foreign country must be limited as to the number of troops, the class of arms and the ter ritory occupied
 hC <hiiOli ieoi SoNCi HiiciiI iCLooSN
 to agree on these points but in the las
 note presented to this governmen
 agreed to accept in part these limita n tions, nevertheless insisting that the. K be not applied to the Columbus expe : dition.
 5, This attitude of the American gov l. ernment caused the Mexican govern e ment to send a note under date o = April 12, suspending negotiations owe y any agreement, in view of the fac n that the American government de 1t manded that the Columbus case shoul If be excluded, and requested the retire /" ment of the American troops, as the
 were in Mexico under no agreemen
 and as a further reason, because tn
 Villa bandits had been dispersed an
 reduced to impotency.
 ,r Meanwhile, the American govern ,t ment did not answer the note of Apr ,s 12, nor withdraw the troops, and it wa a ', found convenient by both countries tha ~ a convention of military chieftain '. meet at some border point in order u treat on the military situation and as
 certain if by this road it were possib
 to arrive at a satisfactory solutio
 which on Mexico's part consisted
 the retirement of the American trooI = from it's territory.
 u To this effect there met at Ciuda
 JuareZ and Fl Paso on the part of tf
 American government, General Sec
 and General Funston and on the pa
 of Mexico the secretary of war ar he the navy, General Obregon, who he
 a series of conferences in a spirit lis frank cordiality.
 ty The note states that the confere n- exchanged data on the frontier situ' nt ton and prepared a memorandum f ce their respective governments in whi' 'I General Scott declared that the d ~ struction and dispersal of the Vii . band should be completed and ther :, fore the American government h; ;s decided to begin withdrawal of ,ts troops under the promise that t me Mexican government would endeav nd to maintain an effective guard agair