The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1916-06-20

outlaws or to turn this duty over to
, Mexican authorities when assured
that it would be effectively fulfilled
have been carried out in perfect good
faith by the United States. Its Of
forts, however, have been INSTRUCTED
at every point; first, by insfstenfe on
a palpably useless argument which
You admit does not apply to the
present expedition or was to Obtain
implicable restrictions on its organ
ization and operation; then by act
I cred by the defacto government to
the further advance expedition into
| Villa territory which was followed
| by sudden suspension OF all negotia
lions for an arrangement for the pur-
suit of Villa and his followers and
the protection of the frontier, and
finally by demand for the immed-
tate withdrawal of American troops.
Meantime conditions OF anarchy in
the border states of Mexico are con-
tin11ally growing worse.
'Tn view Of the actual state Of at.
fairs as ! haFe outlined 1t above, I
am now in q position to consider
the conclusions which you have
drawn under your acknowledgement
from the erroneous statements OF
facts which you have set forth.
! Your government intimates, II 1T
does not openly charge. that the at
titude Of the United States Is one OF
insincerfty, distruct and suspicion to.
ward the defacto government OF
| hot 11a NJ
United States. IN sending It's troops
| to Mexico is to extend its sovereignty
over Mexican territory and not mere
lily for the purpose OF pursuing mar
auders and prevent future raids
across the border. The defacto gov
eminent charges by. implication
which admits of but one interpreta-
ton, that this government has as Its
chief object territorial aggrandize'
ment even at the expense of war
of aggression against a neighbor
weakened by years Of civil strife.
The government Of the United States,
if it had had designs upon the terri
tory Of Mexico. would have had no
difficulty in finding during this period
OF revolution and disorder, many
plausible arguments for Intervention
! in Mexican affairs. Hoping. how
| ever, IQdS Lie PCVHaC VI N'bOAASos
would through their own efforts, re-
store peace and establish an orderly
government. the United States has
awaited with patience the consumma'
ton of the revolution.
when the superiority of the revo-
luton led by General CarranSa be-
came undoubted, the United States
after comforting with six other OF the
American republics recognised uncon-
ditionally the present defacto govern
ment. 1t hoped and expected that
that government would speedily re-
store order.
| Patiently Waiting.
This government has Wafted montn
after month for the contamination OF
| its hope and expectation. In SPITE OF
increasing discouragements, IN spite
Of repeated provocatons TO exercise
| force the government Of the United
States has refrained from aggressive
action and sought by appeals and
moderate, though explicit demands to
| impress upon the defacto government,
the seriousness of the situation.
| 'Tn the face Of constantly renewed
evidence of the patience and restraint
of this governm emit in circumstances
which only government imbued with
unselfshness and sincere respect
to the full sovereign rights and ma
tioual dignity Of the Mexican people
would have endured, doubts and sus-
picions as to the motives of the gov
| eminent of tho United States are ex-
pressed in your communication OF
| May % for which l can imagine no
purpose but TO impugn the good faith
of this government for / And 1t hard
to believe that such imputations are
not universally known to be without
the least shadow Of justification in
fact.
Can the defacto government doubt
that If the United States had turned
covetous eyes on Mexico territory 1t
could have found many pretexts In
the past for the qualification of It's
desire? Can that government DOUBT
that months ago, when the war be-
tween the revolutionary factions was
in progress, much better opportunity
than the present was aforded for
American intervention if such had
been the purpose Of the United States;
as the defacto government now In
sinuates? What motive could this
government have had in refrainfng
from taking advantage OF such oppor-
tunitiee other than unselflsh friend
ship for the Mexican republic.
"You state that even the American
forces along the border find them
selves physically unable to protect,
effectively the frontier on the Ameri-
can side Obviously II there Is no
means of reaching bands rowing on
Mexican territory and making sudden
dashes at night into American terri
tory it is impossible to prevent such
inyasions unless the frontier is pro
tected by a Gordon of troops. No gov
eminent could be expected to main
tain a force of this strength along the
| nation with which IL ia