Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-06-20

time to time, as requested, for Mex
lean troops and equipment to traverse
American territory from one point to
another in Mexico in order that the
operations of Mexican troops against
Villa and his forces might be facilitat-
&c. In view of these friendly acts, L
am surprised that the de facto gov
ernment has construed diplomatic
representations in regard to the un-
just treatment accorded American in
terests, private assistance to opponents
to the de facto government by SYM
pathizers in foreign country and the
activity of a foreign press as inter
ference by the United States govern
ment in the domestic politics of Mex
leo. If a denial is needed that this
government has had Interior and i'm
proper motives in it's diplomatic rep
RESERVATIONS, or has countenanced the
activities of American sympathizers
and the American press opposed to
the de facto government, / am glad
most emphatically to deny it.
1T is, however, matter of COM
mon knowledge that the Mexican
press has been more active than the
press in the United States in endeavor-
ing to inf1ame the two peoples against
each other and to force the two coun-
tries into hostilities. With the power
of censorship of the Mexican press, so
vigorously exercised by the de facto
government, the responsibility for this
activity cannot, it would seem, be
avoided by that government and the
issue of the appeal of General Car
rama himself in the press of March
IL, calling upon the Mexican people to
be prepared for any emergency which
might arise and intimating that war
with the United States was imminent,
evidences the attitude OF the de facto
gov ernment towards these publica-
tions. 1t should not be a matter of
surprise that, after such manifesto
tons of hostile feeling the United
States was doubtful of the purpose for
which the large amount OF ammuni-
ton was to be used which the de facto
government appeared eager to i'm
port from this country. Moreover, the
policy of the de facto government In
refusing to cooperate and in failing
to act Independently in destroying the
Villa bandits and in otherwise sup
pressing outlawry in the vicinity of
the border so as to remove the danger
of war materials, while passing south
ward through this zone, falling into
the hands of the enemies of law and
order is, in the opinion of this govern
ment, sufficient ground, even If there
were no other for the refusal to allow
such materials to cross the boundary
into the bandit-infested region. To
have permitted these shipments with
out careful scrutiny would, in the cir
cumstances, have been to manifest a
sense of security which would have
been unjustified.
Hostility UnconceaIcd
"Candor compeis me to add that the
unconcealed hostility of the subordi-
nate military commanders of the de
facto government toward the Ameri-
can troops engaged in pursuing the
| Villa bands and the efforts of the
de facto government to compel their
withdrawal from Mexican territory by
threats and show of military force in
stead of by aiding in the capture of
the outlaws constitute menace to the
safety of the American troops and to
the peace of the border. AS long as
this menace continues and there is any
evidence of an intention on the part of
the de facto government or its military
commanders to use force against the
American troops instead of CO.
operating with them. the government
of the United States will not permit
munitions of war or machinery for
their manufacture to be exported from
this country to Mexico.
Arrest ConSpirators
'As to the shelter and supply of
rebels and conspirators on American
territory, l can state that vigorous
efforts have been and are being made
by the agents of the United States to
apprehend and bring to justice all per-
sons found to be conspiring to violate
the laws of the United States by or
ganizing to oppose with arms the de
facto government of Mexico. Political
refugees have undoubtedly sought asy-
lum in the United States. but this gov
ernment has Vigilant1y kept them
under surveillance and has not hesi-
tated to apprehend them upon proof
of their criminal intentions, as the
arrest of General HGerta and others
/ fully attests.
Having corrected the erroneous
statements of fact to which I have
adverted, the real situation stands
! forth in its true light. 1t is admitted
| that American troops have crossed the
international boundary in hot pursuit
| of the Columbus raiders and without
notice to or the consent of your gov
on the part of this department
and other American authorities that
| the object of the expedition was
| to capture. destroy or completely
disperse the Villa bands of out
\ laws or to turn this duty over to
the Mexican authorities when assured
| that Ii will be effectively fulfilled have
been carried out in perfect good faith
by the United States. Its efforts. how
ever. have been obstructed at every
point; first, by insistence on a palpably
useless agreement which you admit
was either not to apply to the present
expedition or was to contain imprac-
ticable restrictions on its organization
and operation: then by actual oppo-
sition, encouraged and fostered by the
| de facto government to the further
advance of the expedition into Villa
territory. which was followed by the
sudden suspension of all negotiations
for an arrangement for the pursuit OF
Villa and his followers and the protec-
tion of the frontier. and finally by a
demand for the immediate withdrawal