Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1916-07-12
"First Chiefs" Reply to America.
Demands Opens u Way for Amica-
bic Adjustment of Dispute that
Threatened War.

sumption Of friendly diplomatic con-
versations with the de fact0 govern
mont Of Mexico TO the end that peace
and order may be restored in North
ern MEXICO and along the border Is
expected here to be the next step Of
the United States i'm its relations with
its southern neighbor.
The crisis precipitatcd by villas
raid on Columbus, n. NJ, and culmi-
mating in the fight at Carrizal be-
tween American and Mexican troops
appeared tonight to have been dissi-
patcu hy an amicable note from Cen.
Cararnza. presented to-day by his
ambassador designate here, l;lisco
ArrcdOnl0.
The note proposes that thc h.Tcr-
cnccs between the governments be
settled by mediation or by direct ne
gotiati0ns. II Is remarkable foi its
brevty, It's restrained and fricnly
tone and for the absolute lack Of any
Of the strong. insolcnt language,
which characterized the last two
lloHl llt' uc idtlo
government. 1t treats rs closed in
cidcnt the exchange Of unfricndly
communications which brought war
almost within sight.
Crisis Considered Over.
No formal comment ON the note
was obtainablc from State Depart
ment officials. A copy was forward
ed to the White House immediately
upon its receipt, and President Will
son will determine the course to be
pursued. The fact that Secretary
Lansing completed preparations to-
day for Il months vacation, to begin
Friday, Is regarded as significant,
however, Of a feeling on his part
that the crisis is over.
AS matter Of general principle,
the washington government always
has favored mediation of any dis
pute suitable for such procedure.
There is every indication, however,
that in the present instance it will
be deemed desirable to conduct
forthcoming negotiations directly
with the CarranZa government
Members Of the Latin american
diplomatic corps here are expected
TO make inquiry soon as to tho atti-
tude of the Washington government
in view Of the statement OF the Mex
lean foreign Office that it awaits only
decision here as to whether media
tion or direct negotiations would be
pre1crablc. Indications tonight
were that the inquiries would be
met with assurances that the two
governments had reached the stage
where they would not find it neces-
sary to call upon the friendly SER
vices Of their ncighbor States.
May BE No Formal Reply.
1t is not known whether formal
reply to Gen. Carranzas note is con-
templated. Diplomatic usage does
not call for one. and many officials
feel that more can be accomplished
through informal discussion between
Mr.. Arredondo and Counsellor Polk,
who will act as Secretary in Mr.. Lam
sings absence, than could be hoped
for in any other way 1t Is under
stood Mr.. Arrcdondo plans to call at
the department tomorrow to say
goodbye to Secretary Lansing be-
fore the latter's departure for his
vacation. Probably the preliminary
steps necessary for the inauguration
OF the informal discussion will then
be taken
State Department officials appear
ed entirely satisfied with the dcfni-
ton Of the matters to be settled out
lined in the new Mexican note. 1t
is presented in this language, as
translated ut the embassy:
'Thc American government be-
licvcs. reasonably. that the insecur-
ity Of its frontier is a course Of diff
Guilty; and the Mexican government
on its part believes that the stay OF
American troops in Mexican terri
tory, aside from being Il trespass on
the sovereignty Of Mexico, is the i'm
mediate cause Of the conflicts. There
fore the withdrawal or American
troops, on the one hand and the
protection Of the frontic on the
other, are the two essential prob
lens, the solution OF which must be
the directing object OF the efforts Of
both governments"
Coupled with this definition is an