Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-04-14


rawal of American troops froI
Iexico was delivered to Secretary Lar
ing by Eliseo Arredondo, his amoas
ador, this afternoon.
The text of the note follows;
Your Excellency, Robert Lansing,
Secretary of the United states
Washington:
The Mexican government, in It's
desire to conserve cordial ana un-
changeable good relations OF TREND
ship which ought to exist between
Mexico and the United states, as
much for the sentiment that AMI
mates this government as well as
for a desire of satisfying the splr-
it of article 20 of the treaty of
friendship celebrated between both
countries on the End day of Feb
ruary. 1S4S, and in view Of the Ia
mentable happenings that took
place in Columbus on the 9Th of
March, last, and remembering the
historical 'antecedents in similar
cases, did not hesitate to make
to the government of the United
States, under date of March 10,
PROPOSAL by means of which the
forces of one and the other coun-
try could reciprocally cross the di-
viding line in pursuit of bandits If
unfortunately there should be re-
peated along the border acts like
those committed Sin Columbus.
From the beginning the Mexican
government judged that, by rea-
son of the time which had trans
pired and for the purpose of treat
ing a case already passed, the said
incident could not continue as a
proposal for the reciprocal passing
of troops.
PROPOSITION CONDITIONAL
1t is for this reason that the
note of our government, sent on
the 10th Of March, indicates with
all clearness that the proposition
contained in it was conditional, or,
what is the same, that reciprocity
could take place only if the inter-
ruption registered in Columbus
should unfortunately be repeated
at any other point of the frontier
line.
The American government rely
ing on the text of said note and
without having understood all these
conditions of it's limitations, but
rather believing in the existence of
a definite agreement, as is indicated
in the terms of it's note of March 10,
gave expression to it's views as fol-
lows:
That, in view of the consent to
this reciprocal agreement proposed
by the de facto government of
Mexico, this agreement is now COM
plete and in vigor, and the recipro-
cal privilege previously mentioned
may be exercised by each govern
ment without a future interchange
of ideas"
1t was considered right to send
on Mexican territory an expedition
which has been called punitive, with
the object of pursuing and chastis-
ing Villa and his party of outlaws.
and the expedition was sent some
days after the wrongdoers had re-
turned to Mexican territory.
NOT AUTHORIZED.
On the 18th day of March the
Mexican government sent note to
the American government through
our confidential agent in Washing
ton Licenciado Eliseo Arrondo.
stating that the Mexican govern
ment had reliable information that
without the knowledge or the
advice of the nearest civil
and optical authorities, and
without sending any communication
on the part of the American govern
ment a so-called punitive expedition
had passed through Palomas with
the object of pursuing Villa and his
party.
AS a consequence, the said con-
fidentiaI agent was instructed to
call the attention Of the United
States government to that fact that
II was giving an incorrect interpre-
tation to the text of the note of
March 10, and that the government
of Mexico was disposed 10 sustain
its proposal regarding the reciprocal
passage of troops, but that an eX-
petition could not be sent in the
meantime, as the terms and condi-
lions relative to the agreement were
not defined.
CONDITIONS APPROVED.
This government insisted in its
note of March II that the recipro-
cal passage of troops would be per-
mitted only if, unfortunately, from
this time forward there should be
repeated Interruptions like the one
registered at Columbus, or of any
other kind whatever at any point
on the frontier line. In the mean
time the Mexican government, faith
full to it's proposal and with the in
tention of fulfilling strictly it's COM
promise. began drawing up a pro-
ject for the reciprocal passage of
troops, which was presented in full
form to the United States govern
ment under date of March IS, it be-
ing hoped that the terms and condi-
tions established in the said agree
ment would meet with approval.
The American government through
the medium of our confidential
agent, communicated that in princi-
pie it accepted the agreement and
was only studying the points in de-
tail in order to finish it.
So many things went on until the
18th of March, when the Honorable
James Linn Rodgers presented a
note to our secretary begging that
the corresponding authorities in
Chihuahua should give the neces-
sary instructions to permit that
some provisions be transported by
the Northwestern railroad for the
American troops pursuing Villa and
his party.
MEXICANS SURPRISED.
On the same date the Mexican
government answered the note, man.
ifesting surprise that, without any
official advices whatever on the part
of the United States government,