Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1916-04-15

| Washington, April 14.-The United
| States is prepared to treat with Gen.
| Carranza as proposed in his note of
| yesterday, for the withdrawal Of
| American troops from Mexico. Pend
ing the outcome of the diplomatic ne
gotiationS, however, the status OF the
expedition will remain unchanged and
the pursuit continued.
This was the situation as officially
stated today after President Wilson
| and his cabient had considered the
new phases of the Mexican problem
raised by Gen. Carranzas communi-
cation.
No New Orders.
Secretary Lansing said he was pre-
pared to take up the matter with the
de facto government, but would indi
| cate when a reply might be sent. Sec
retary Baker said no new orders had
been sent to Gen. Funston and none
was under contemplation.
Both secretaries said there had been
no change in the policy of the admin
is:ration which prompted the pursuit
of Villa.
Fixing of Date.
! Secreary Lansing would not say
whether heS was prepared to negotiate
with the de facto government with
view to the possible fixing Of date
| for the withdrawal of American
| troops. He indicated that the time
element of an agreement would be
| based on what develops in the pur-
| suit of the bandits. AS the admins.
tration's attitude is understood here, a
| satisfactory demonstration by the Car
| rama military forces of their ability
| to stop once and for all the brigan-
| dage in the border states would see
! the object Of the American expedition
accomplished.
| Administrations View.
Senator Stone, chairman Of the for
eign relations committee, is thought
to have voiced the administration S
view to the senate, speaking after a
conference with Secretary Lansing:
"The problem confronting this gov
! ernment," the senator said, "is how
long it would be wise to keep an ex-
peditionary force in Mexico If we ad-
here to our policy toward Mexico, we
cannot keep the army there. TO my
mind, the only alternative to with
drawing the troops sooner or later is
| Intervention"
Great interest in the outcome Of
the cabinet meeting today was mani.
tested by members of congress. Many
inquiries as to the course to be pur.
sued were received at the White
| House and by members of the presi
dents official family.
No Local Politics.
| 1t is understood that it was made
| clear in every instance that domestic
] politics would not be allowed to have
the slightest weight in dealing with
the problem. Secretary Lansing has
many details to consider. There are
questions of fact which will have to
be cleared up before an agreement
will be possible. The state depart
ment saw no reason today to retire
from its position that formal agree.
ment, under which the crossing of the
border had proceeded had been reach
ed with Carranza, before the order to
move was given.
Mr.. Lansing said today he had no
! recollection of having assured Are
dondo, the Mexican ambassador desig-
nate, on March 1913 that the troops
would not go farther south than they
then were until the diplomatic situa-
ton was clear, and that he must have
| been misunderstood by Mr.. Arredon.
| do.
Will Take Time.
1t will take time to gather and study
| the facts. Part of the negotiations
with Mr.. Arredondo We're conducted
| by Consular Polk in the absence of
| the secretary. Attention has been
! given to the fact that the Carranza
note rested its request for negotia-
| tions in part upon the statement that
| the American expedition was not full
| filling It's object, the capture of Villa
and dispersal of his bands, and could
| not fulfill it. The state and war de-
| partments are not disposed to allow
this to go unchallenged.
In any event, apparently, the possi-
bility of withdrawing the troops is
| not viewed as an immediate one.
1t was evident at the war depart
ment today that details as to the sup
ply and other problems of maintaining
the force at the front, were being
cared for without interruption.
1t also was evident that no move
was being made by Gen. Funston
without carefully weighing the mill
tary chances, should there be an un-
1COntinued an PAGE TVol