The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-03-11
Our Purpose In Mesieo.

I'll uSOI0iU& " yin uh auVuuutS
force" 10 pursuit OF VILLA and his
band Of outlaws the President has /
adopted a course for which there are
sanction and p%recedents. Mr.. FISH
when Secretary Of State in the sec
cnd Grant Administration advised
General BILKNAP. the Secretary Of
War. that ian tncursion into the ter
ritory OF Mexico for the purpose OF
dispensing a band of Indian maraud-
ers Is. II necessary. not n violation
Of the law Of nations" Mr.. Nc.
CARRY. Secretary Of War in the
Hayes Administration, gave the fol-
lowing instructions In June. 1877, to
General W. T. SHERMAN at q time
when bands Of Mexicans and Indians
were raiding ranches and settlements
In Texas:
you will direct General Orr that in
cAse the lawless incursions continue he
viii he at liberty, In the use OF hs own
discretion. when in pursuit Of a band
Of the mirauder RI. and when his troops
are either in sight OF them or upon a
fresh trail. to follow them across the
Rio t;rande. and to overtake and pun
oh them. as well as retake stolen prop
erty taken from our citizens and found
in their hands on the Mexican side of
TIE line"
Colonel W. NJ. SHAfILR. later Of
Santiago fame, had reported to Cen
eral Dan that II WINS only by giving
authority IN American troops to op-
crate in Mexico that life and prop
erty could be made secure on the
frontier. The following year Secre-
tary Of State EvARTs. writing on the
same subject to the Hon. JOHN W.
FosrER. then Minister TO Mexico,
said:
allow maraudins bands to establish
themselves upon its borders with liberty
to invade and plumber United States
territory With impunity, n then. when
pursued. TO take refuge across the Rio
Grande under protection OF the plea of
the integrity of the soil OF the Mexican
Republic"
II Is to he noted as bearing upon
present. conditions in Mexico that at
the time Secretary MCCRARf in
structed General W. r. SHERMAN
President DIAz had not established
bis authority in northern Mexico. II
Ia also to he noted that Secretary
EvARTs while that part of Mexico was
still turbulent impressed upon Mr..
Foster. who. by the way. was pre-
ceptor in diplomacy Ia Secretary
LANSING, that In protecting Its citi.
zens the United States sis not ~.
IicltOus. II never has been. about the
methods or ways in which that pro-
lection shall be accomplished. wheth-
~ by formal treaty stipulation or by
Informal convention: whether by the
action 81 judicial tribunals or that of
military forces"
In the announcement given out at
the White House 1t Is said that the
capture Of VTfLA and putting II stop
to his fOray>" viii be done 'in
friendly aid Of the constituted au.
thorities In Mexico and with scrupu.
Ions respect for the sovereignty of
that republic" There are precedents
for q friendly understanding. a -gen-
tiemen's agreement" between the Car
rama and the American Governments
that will sanction President WILSON'S
course In the Arthur Administra.
tion there was an agreement with
Mexico that provided "for the cross
ing Of the frontier by the armed
forces of either country In pursuit oi
hostile Indians" As late AS June I
1893, there was n similar understand
ing. But whether General CARRANzA
approves or not. the use Of American
troops for police duty In northern Mex
leo has become necessary, whatever
the consequences may be.
In no sense will the punitive expe
dition into Mexico he an act Of war
II Is directed against II yenOmou
enemy of the C'arrnnzn Government
which President WILSON has recog
nised. Its purpose Is helpful, not hos
tile. No territory Is to be occupied
none Is desired. Our flag will slmpl.
hc an emblem carried by troops en-
gagged In doing what the Carranz'
Government wants done hut has beer
impotent To do. No n but WILL
anu mis- fellow outlaws need fear tn
soldier police who wear the American
uniform. .As II matter Of fact, the.
will he II protection 10 peaceful Mex
leans, who will often be glad to shar
their ralioi.s, Tor famine l. nov tn
fate of the poems.
In u somewhat similar case, whcl
/. ,!eXlco proved unable ~ proteC