Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-06-20
Unable to Suppress Raids.

The de facto government finally ar
CUES that IF the frontier were duly pro-
tected from incursfons from Mexico
there would be no reason for the ex-
listing difficulty: thus the de facto gov
eminent attempts to absolve itself from
the first duty of any government, name
~, the protection of life and property
rms is the paramount obligation for
which governments are instituted and
governments neglecting or failing to
perform it are not worthy of the name
This is the duty for which Gen. Car
rama. 1T must be assumed, initiated his
reVoiution IN Mexico and organized the
present government anu for which the
United States government recognized
his government as the de facto govern
ment of Mexico. Protection of Ameri-
can lives and property, then. in the
United States is first the obligation of
this government, and in Mexico is, first,
the obligation of Mexico, and, second.
the obligation of the United States. In
securing this protection along the COM
mon boundary the United States has a
right to expect the cooperation of its
ne1ghborfng republic; and yet instead
OF taking steps to check or punish the
raiders the de facto government de-
murS and objects to measures taken nv
the United States. The government Of
the United States does not wish to be-
heve that the de facto government ap-
proves these marauding attacks vet as
they continue to be made. they show
mat the Mexican government is unable
TO repress them. This inability, as this
government has had occasion in the
past TO say, may excuse the failure to
check the outrages complained of, but
United States to prevent them, for il
the government of Mexico cannot pro
tect the lives and property Of Americans.
exposed to attack from Mexicans. the gov
n nf ftn v~sH
bound. SO far as it can. to do so.
In conclusion, the Mexican govern
ment invites the United States to sun
port its assurances Of friendship with
be no other than the immediate with
drawal of the American troops" For
the reasons l have herein fully set
forth, this request of the de facto gov
The United States has not sought the
duty which has been forced upon it
of pursuing bandits who under funda-
mental principles of municipal and in
and arrested and punished by Mexican
authorities. Whenever Mexico will as
sumo and effectively exercise that re-
sponsibility the United States. as it
clared. will be glad to have this obli-
cation fulfilled by the de facto gov
eminent of Mexico. If, on the contrary,
the de fa fact government Is pleased to
that lin case of a refusal to retire
these troops there is no further re-
course than to defend it's territory by
an appeal to arms" the government Of
the United States would surely be lack
ing sincerity and friendship if it did
not frankly impress upon the de facto
government that the execution of this
threat will lead to the gravest conse-
quences. While this government would
deeply regret such a result. 1t cannot
recede from its settled determination
to maintain its national rights and to
perform its full duty in preventing
further invasions of the territory Of
the United States and in removing the
peril which Americans along the inter-
national boundary have borne 80 long
with patience and forbearance.
Accept, ETC..