Yerington times. [volume] (Yerington, Nev.) 1907-1932, 1916-06-24

prise that after such manifestations OF
hostile feeling, the United States was
doubtful of the purpose for which the
large amount of ammunition was to be
used which the de facto government
appeared eager to import from this
country. Moreover, the policy of the
de facto government is refusing to CO,
operate and in failing to act independ-
emily in destroying the Villa bandits
and otherwise suppressing outlawry
in the vicinity of the border so as to
remove the danger of war materials
while passing southwark through this
zone, falling into the hands of the
enemies of law and order, is, in the
opinion of this government 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 without careful scrut.
my would, in the circumstances, have
been to manifest sense of security
which would have been unjustifed.
Candor compels me to add that the
unconcealed hostility of the subordin-
ate military commanders of the dc
facto government toward the Ameri.
can troops engaged in pursuing the
Villa bands, and the efforts of the dc
facto government to compel their
withdrawal from Mexican territory
by threats and show of military force
instead of by aiding in the capture of
the outlaws, constitute a menace to
the safety of the American troops
and to the peace of the border. AS
long as this menace continues and
there is an 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 cooperating with them, the
government of the United States will
permit munitions of war or machinery
for their manufacture to be exported
from this country to Mexico.
Sir: | have read your communica-
ton, which was delivered to me on
May p, 1916, under instructions of the
chief executive of the de facto govern
ment of Mexico on thte subject of the
presence of American troops in Mexi-
can territory and l would be wanting
in candor if l did not. before making
answer to the allegations of fact and
the conclusions reached by your gov
ernment, express the surprise and re-
gret which have been caused this gov
ernment by the distcourteous tone
and mper of this last communication
from the de facto government of
Mexico.
The government of the United Stat
es has viewed with deep concern and
increasing appointment the pro-
gress OF the revolution in Mexico.
Continuous bloodshed and disorders
have marked its progress. For three
years the Mexican republic has been
torn with civil strife, the lives of Am
ericans and other aliens have been
sacrificed; vast properties developed
by American capital and enterprise
have been destroyed or rendered non
productive, bandits have been per-
mitted to roam at will through the
territory contiguous to the United
States and to seize, without punish
ment or without effective attempt at
punishment, the property of Ameri-
cans, while the lives of citizens of the
United States who ventured to remain
in Mexican territory or to return
there to proptect their interests have
been taken, in some cases barbarously
taken, and the murdreers have neith-
er been apprehended nor brought to
justice. 1t would be difficult to find
in the annals of the history of Mexi-
CO conditions more deplorable than
those which have existed there during
these recent years of civil war.
1t would be terious to recount in
stance after instance, outrage after
outrage, atrocity after atrocity, to
illustrate the true nature and extent
of the widespread conditions of law
lessness and violence which have pre-
vailed. During the past nine months
in particular the frontier of the United
States along the lower Rio Grande
has been thrown into state of con-
slant apprehension and turmoil be-
cause of frequent and sudden incurs-
ions into American territory soil by
Mexican bandits, who have taken the
lives and destroyed the property Of
American citizens, sometimes carry
ing American citizens across the inter
nationl boundary with the booty
l.