The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-03-14
Reciprocal Agreement Al lowing Mexican Troops to Cross to U. S. Lessens Tension.
 Will Be Allowed to Pursue Here Bands Who Go From U. S. to Commit Outlawry In Mexico.

Washington, March 14-Presdent
 Wilson yesterday agreed to the re-
 ciprocad arrangement proposed by the
 Carranza, de facto government of Mex
 ico for the pursuit of armed bandits
 like Villa and his followers across the
 information boundary. At the same
 time, Secretary Lansing, by instruc-
 ton of the President, notified the Car
 ranza government that the United
 States understood that the agreement
 was 'fnow complete and in force."
 The decision of the Administration
 to accept the Carranza proposal was President Wilson and Secretary Lans- ing this conference followed conversa- tions between the President and lead CTS in Congress.
 Secretary Lansing late in the after noon sent a telegram to American Consul Silliman, at Guada1ajara, Mex ico, directing him to inform the Car ranza government of the decision of the United States, @ formal note to the Mexican Minister of Foreign Af- fairs, Senor Acuna, being, embodied in the telegram.
 At the same time General Funston was informed that this government as being Gin force" and that under it General Funston was free to move the punitive expedition across the obrder in pursuit of Villa at any time.
 If the expeditionary columns have not already entered Mexico, it is strongly hinted at the War Depart ment, American troops will be in Mex ico before sunset today. The un- derstanding here is that General Funston is ready to proceed with the movement of the expeditionary force Telegrams to the War Department showed that all the troops ordered to ston to take the place on patrol of units assigned to the expeditionary columns were en route to the iron tier. At the same time vast Quanti- ties of supplies-clothing foodstuffs and ammunition-aFe- going to quar- termasters and commissaries the ground for the use of the expedition ary force and of. the ss border patrol, which is being strengthened in every possible manner.
 Equal Privileges and No More.
 In accepting the Carranza proposal for a.reciproca1 arrangement, Presi- dent Wilson agrees to permit Mexico to do exactly what the United States is doing under identica11y the same circumstances. The President. does not agree to agree to allow Carranza to order his troops to, pursue into this country Mexicans who commit out rages in Mexico. The arrangement agreed to by the United States gov ernment only permits the military forces of Mexico to pursue into this country such 1awless bands of armed men may enter Mexico from the United States, commit outrages on soil, and then return to American territory It is not ex-
 xJi h incursion from this country into Mex ico or any occasion for Mexican troops coming into the United States.
 After sending this telegram to Con suI Si1Iirnan, Secreary Lansing left for N. C., for a weeks rest. Frank L. Polk. who is Act ing Secreary of State, conferred late in the afternoon with Secretary of War Baker and Major General Hugh L. Scott, Chief or the Army General Staff, regarding the situation. He laid before Secretary Baker for to General Funston the text of this governments answer to the Carranza government, as we'll as the statement issued by Secretary Lansing, by direction of the Presi- dent, making plain the purpose of the United States government to confne l it's movements in Mexico to the pur- suit and capture of Villa and his 1 band.
 Secretary Lansings announcem ent, i 3 copy of which was also sent to the | Carranza government and to all American Consular officers in Mexico, | said that to remove any apprehension | hat might exist either in the United l States or Mexico, the President had 1 authorized the Secretary ito give in l his name the public assurance that | he military operations now in con 1 emulation by this government will be confined to the object al- 1 ready announced and that in no cir will they: be suffered to rench in any degree upon the sover- 9igntv of Mexico or develop into in ,erveation of any kind in the in ,ernal affairs of our sister republic. 0n the contrary the statement con ,Iuded, what is now being done is deliberately intended to preclude the possibility of intervention"
 The purpose of the punitive expe- iition as previously announced is to bring about the capture of Villa and lis band. It is the hope of the Ad- that the Mexicans will ,ccept the assurance given by the President as being absolutely sincere, 1 md that they will regard the Aneri- ,an governments willingness to enter nto a reciprocal agreement with Mexico as practical proof of sheer ty.
 CPEEKS ANn FRENCH CLASH