New-York tribune., 1916-07-29
Agrees to Joint Commits
sion to Settle Pending
Differences.
SEEKS TO UNCOVER
CAUSES OF RAIDS
Reply to Mexican Proposal Sug-
gests Wider Scope for COM
MISSIONS Inquiries.
From me Tribune Bureau ]

settle lne OlVcre1CeS between the TWO
countries is made in note sent to
General Carranza by Acting Secretary
of State Frank L. Polk, and made public
here tonight.
The United States makes it a condi-
tion that before the commission shall
meet the scope of powers be widened
beyond the three categories defined by
General Carranza, and that the COM
mission shall have authority to go into
all questions that will tend to improve
the relations of the two countries
The note also suggests that such
recommendations as the commission
may make shall not be binding upon
the respective governments until Tor
mally accepted by them"
The dispatch of this note followed
to-day's session Of the Cabinet, which
is understood to have been occupied
mainly with the Mexican problem. A
full outline Of the negotiations during
the last month with Ambassador Deslg-
nate Arredondo was presented by Mr..
Polk. The chief point under discussion,
il is understood, has been the limlta-
tions on the work of the commission.
Mr.. Polk conferred with Mr.. Arredondo
at the State Department later.
Seeks Bottom Facts.
Carranza is said to have been in
iOip. hoard take
only the questions now pressing on
the border-the recall of General
| Pershing's expedition, measures Tor
policing both sides of the boundary
and the prevention of further raids.
| The Administration has been anxious
/ TO 90 to the bottom of the whole Mex
/ lean tangle, to investigate the causes
/ of the raids on both sides Of the bor-
| der. and to aid in devising means for
/ the financial and economic rehabilita-
| tion of the republic, without which 1t
/ does not feel any settlement can be
/ permanent Only by some such plan,
1 the Administration believes, can the
mistakes Of the two previous attempts
/ to mediate be averted.
If the American proposal is accepted,
il is believed that the commission Will
meet as quickly as 1t can be assem-
bled. While there has been no inti-
nation as to whom the President was
considering for the American commits
sioners, opinion seems to agree that
two of the three places will go to
Chief Justice White and ex-Solicitor
General Frederick W. Lehman, of st.
Louis. As the only living member Of
former commissions, Mr.. Lehmann's
services would be particularly valu-
able.
With indications that the Republi-
cans were planning to make Mexico
their chief weapon against President
Wilson, there has been some anxiety
among Administration leaders to get
the negotiations out of the present
stage of apparent deadlock. With a
commission sitting, they feel that
much Of the responsibility could be
passed on to that body, while they
would escape also much of the criti-
cism arising from the inaction of the
militia on the border.
Text of American Reply.
dressed to Mr.. Arredondo. as given out
by Acting Secretary Polk, is as fol-
lows:
receipt of your communication of July
IL last, in which you transcribe a note
addressed TO me by the Secretary of
Foreign Relations of your government.
and to request that you will be good
enough TO transmit to him the fol-
lowing reply:
"'Mr. Secretary: ! have the honor to
acknowledge receipt of your excel
lency's note transmitted under date of
July - by Eliseo Arredondo, your
rovernment's confidential agent in
Washington, informing me that your
excellency has received instructions
from the citizen First Chief Of the
Constitutionalist army. charged with
the executive power of the union, to
propose that each of our governments
name three commissioners who shall
hold conferences at some place to be
mutually agreed upon and decide forth
with the question relating TO the evac-
uation of the American forces now in
Mexico, and TO draw up and conclude
a protocol or agreement regarding the
reciprocal crossing of the frontier by
the forces of both countries, also TO
determine the origin of the incursions
TO date. in order to fix the responsible
ity therefor and definitely to settle the
difficulties now pending or those which
may arise between the two countries
on account of the same or a similar
reason, all Of which shall be subject
to the approval of both governments.
Carranza Proposal Accepted.
an reply | have the honor to state
that ! have laid your excellency's note
before the President and have re-
ceived his instructions TO inform your
excellency that the government of the
United States is disposed TO accept the
proposal of the Mexican government in
the same spirit of frank cordiality in
which il is made. This government
believes and suggests, however. that
the powers of the proposed commission
should be enlarged so that, II happily
solution satisfactory to both govern
ments Of the question set forth IN your
excellency's communication may be
reached, the commission may also con-
slider such other matters the friendly
arrangement of which would tend 10
improve the relations of the two coun-
tries. il being understood that such
recommendations as the commission
may make shall not be binding upon
the respective governments until ior-
mally accepted by them.
SHOULD this proposal be accepted by
your excellency's government, | have
the honor to state that this govern
ment will proceed Immediately to ap-
point its commissioners and fix, after
consultation with your excellency's gov
eminent, the time and place and other