New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-06-02
Carranza's Threat OF
Armed Action Fails
to Alter Policy.
LATIN-AMERICA
WITH FIRST CHIEF
Copies of Protest Distrib-
uted Among Embassies
ito Gain Sympathy
lFro N. TrIhuns Burs,u ]

Washington, June 1.-The American
forces will not be withdrawn from
Mexico in response TO Carrsr-a de-
mand General Pershing will stay un-
iii the Carranza government has dem
onstrated its ability TO police its side
of the border, it was announced ofh-
cislly to-day. This programme Will be
adhered TO whether or not armed re-
sistance is offered.
President Wilson was irriteted by the
tone of the Carranza note, and parti-
cularly by the charge that he was main
tanning the expedition in Mexico Tor
political reasons. Administration Off
cials regard this observation as entirely
uncalled for and highly undiplomatic.
At the same time they stated con-
fidently that Carranza's attitude was
dictated by the political situation in
Mexico and that, therefore, the danger
of an armed conflict was remote.
Statements Declared False.
The facts stated in Carranza's note
were declared to be false for the most
part. especially with regard to General
Scott's interview with 0bregon. The
, administration denies that General
Scott told Obregon there would be no
more expeditions into Mexico, and that
he said the elimination of the Villa
bands had been accomplished and the
purpose of the Pershing expedition full
filled.
1t is not denied, however, that the
lLanghorne-Sibleye expedition was under
taken without a shadow Of legality, as
the Carranza note charges. Neither Is
il denied that the administration has
alleged false reasons for Withholding
shipments of arms to the CarranZa
/ forces.
/ Administration officials admit that
the President has been placed in an
embarrassing position. Carranza's
charges, they grant, appear TO call for
I refutation, but many officials think the
/ President would do better to pass them
unnoticed, for the present at least. The
/ President himself is not yet decided be-
tween silence and sending q sharp note
rebuking Carranza.
Latin-America Suspicious.
One Of the paragraphs in the Car
rama note that stung the deepest was
/ the reference to the attitude of Latin
America, which was represented as sus-
picious of the Presidents motives in
Mexico. 1t was a direct slap at the
/ Presidents protestations of good faith
/ toward Latin-America, and, in view Of
/ the Presidents recent proposal TO nego-
! tiate a convention to guarantee the SOW
/ ereignty of every American state, WAS
particularly annoying.
The Tribune learned to-day that the
attitude of atin-America was exactly
as Carranza represented 1t. The coun-
/ tries of South America believe that
President Wilson's present policy
toward Mexico is directly at variance
with his public protestations, and that
the attitude he adopts toward Car
ranza's protest will prove or refute the
charge.
Possible exceptions to this senti-
ment are Chill and Guatemala, particu-
/ larlv the latter, whose President has
reason to desire the overthrow of the
/ Carranza government. The other cour-
! tries were opposed TO the Mexican vent
ure from the start, particularly so after
/ il was made clear that the American
troops entered Mexico and remained
/ there in defiance of the CarranZa gov
ernment
Certain administration officials who
| recently toured South America with
/ the international High Commission
| circulated the report on their return
| that Latin America would back Presi-
/ dent Wilson in any step he might think
necessary in Mexico, even to out-and-
/ out intervention. This report was
promptly denied by prominent Latin
/ Americans here. and disinterested in
| ouiries in South American capita 8
/ later proved that they were right ana
/ the overzealous administration defend
ers wrong Latin America would re
/ card intervention at this time as a de-
/ iiberately planned aggression, deslgaed
/ bv President Wilson to cove. up the
| weakness Of his Mexican policy.
/ The case for Carranza as against
/ President Wilson was thus summed up
I bv a Latin-American for The Tribune
( to-day:
General Carranzs, whether correct IS
/ 20 facts or not, has made the only
/ public declarations on the subject oil
/ The Pershing expeditions that are con
sistent ana comPfehShSip1S
Both of his notes TO the American
,overnment have had a ring of frank
tSess and sincerity, and If they are not
! fair statement of the situation the
Washington government should say so.
Its silence gives credence to the cur
rent opinion that Carranza's arguments
( are unanswerable.
rs Consider Pledge Violated.
President Wilson went into Mexico
for a strictly military purpose the
pursuit of Villa and the dispersal OF
| his bands. Ii is now admitted. even by
administration officials, that the expe-
dition gradually is withdrawing to
I Colonia Dublan, where IL will eneamp
and wait for Carranza TO clean up the
| bandits This new purpose IS not mil
l Continued on page !. column