Arizona republican., 1916-05-23
No Prospect of Impending Relief Causes Washington Officials to View Situa- tion with Much Appre- hensiOn
RAILROAD STRIKE,
 IS THREATENED
Special Agents of United
 States All Over Mexico Sending in Alarming Re ports; De Facto Govern ment Prepares New Note
[Republican A. p. Leased Wire1

WASHINGTON, May 22-The eco- homie situation in Mexico was extreme ly grave according to officials advices today to the state department. With the Monetary problem already acute, the food shortage in Mexico City and vicinity continuing without prospect of any immediate relief and with the labor strike extending over practically all the Mexican railway lines the de facto government is pictured as facing serious domestic plight
 First hand reports as to the situa- tion in northern Mexico will reach the department tomorrow. Consul Letch- CT, from Chihuahua City, is enroute to Washington presumbably bringing with him d synopsis of the reports of | five other consuls recently ordered to
 the border to talk over conditions with | military officials there.
 It was officially stated that while Mr. Letcher would make his report on 1 conditions in Mexico, that was not the | sole purpose of his trip. It was eX- plained he was ordered here that rout- inc matters might be taken up with | him. but no inkling of their nature was given out.
 | The department today received fur 1 ther advices from Special Agent Rodg- | CTS at Mexico City telling of the new ! note that was in process of prepara- 1 tion by the de facto government; but the message threw no light on its purpose. The communication will be handed to Secretary Lansing by Eliseo 1 Arredondo, Ambassador designate, but the embassy, so far has no knowledge of the matter. Mir. Rodgers last mes sage indicated that the note had not been sent forward and might not be sent for a day or so.
 While reports as to the domestic
 situation of the Carranza government
 are gloomy, the attitude of Mexican officials towards the United States
 has been described as more friendly since the border conference betweer
 General Scott and General Obregon l It is believed possible this will be re- l. flected in the new note, although som, 7 officials think it probable that a new l request for withdrawal of the Ameri can expeditionary forces will be includ f ed with whatever other proposals Gen eral Carranza has to make.
 Since the state departments repre- sentations as to the renewed raidint 2 in the Big Bend country of Texas hav . not been answered the note is expect . ed to go into that subject. Official
 here, including Secretary Baker, sa, ' | the military conference on the borde
 | left the situation uncnanGed as [
 l
 | raids. The state department position l | is that the original agreement propose Q by General CarranZa and accepted b e 1 Secretary Lansing, fully covers Colone
 1 Sibley's drive into Mexico after tn
 | Boquillas raiders. The Washingto
 | government still is proceeding on tn |, theory that the right to follow he
 | trails across the border has been es n tablished and General Funston's in . | structions are based on this view.
 Reports from General Funston tha
 1f6 members of the Texas nations
 ! guard had refused to take the muster
 | ing oath and enter the federal ser
 vice under the presideut's call. brougt
 1 members of congress from that stat
 l to the war department today to fin out what action was in contemplation They were told the matter had not yt reached Secretary Baker for consider ation. MT. Bakers militia adviser
 are preparing recommendations fC
 him under the existing militia law an i it is known that some officers beliey
 they should be tried and fined as
 warning to national guardsmen
 l T ,l-,.r
 serious responsibility in joining u l organization. The secretary himse
 has prepared a study of the law in u .. case until all the facts are before hiI st Continued on Page Three)