The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1916-06-23
LANSING TELLS FIRST CHIEF
THAT "GRAvEsr coNsE-
QUENcES" WILL FOL-
LOW ANY At
TACK.
Note Charges Diseourtesy, Misrepre-
sentAtion Of Facts and lnsincertty,
and That No Attempt Was
Made to Help Pursue
Bandits,

Washington, June 21.-The United
States noe to Gen. Carranza informs
him that American troops will not be
withdrawn from Mexico and warns
him that war will follow any attempt
on his part to enforce his threat to
attack the United States soldiers.
The note in part follows:
The secretary of state to the secre-
tary of foreign relations of the de
| facto government of Mexico:
| Department of State, Washington,
June 20. 1916. Sir-I have read your
communication, which was delivered
to me on May %, 1916. under instruc-
tions of the chief executive of the dc
| facto government of Mexico on the sub
tect Of the presence of American
troops In Mexican territory and l
| would be wanting in candor II did
| not, before making answer to the ale
| cations Of fact and the conclusions
reached BY your, government, express
| the surprise and regret which have
been caused this government by the
aiseourteous tone and temper OF this
| government of Mexico.
The government of the United States
| has viewed with deep concern and
Increasing dlsappoiintmen, the prog-
tinuous bloodshed and disorders have
marked Its progress.
| For three years the Mexican repub-
lie has been torn with civil strife;
have been sacrificed; vast properties
developed by American capital and en-
terprise have been destroyed or rem
| dered productive; bandits have
| been permitted to roam at will through
the territory contiguous to the Unit
90 states and to seize without pun
| ishment or without effective attempt
at punishment the property of Ameri-
cans, while the lives of citizens of the
| united states who ventured to remain
n Ia ina farr ~
to protect their interests have been
taken, in some cases barbarously TAX
en-, and the murderers have neither
been apprehended nor brought to JUS
| tice.
1t would be difficult to find in the
annals of the history Of Mexico con-
| dftions more deplorable than those
which have existed there during these
recent years of civil war.
1t would be tedious 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
Recount. bandit Raid. Acro.. BORDER
During the past nine months in par,
States along the lower Rio Grande has
been thrown into state Of constant
frequent ana sudden ineursions into
American territory and depredations
and murders on American soil by Mexi-
| CdH VINO nave taken the 1lVeS
and destroyed the property Of Ameri-
can citizens, sometimes carrying Amer
lean citizens across the international
boundary, with the booty seized.
American garrisons have been at
tackled at night, American soldiers
killed and their equipment and horses
raided. property stolen and destroyed
and American trains wrecked and
plundered
The attacks on Brownsville, Red
House Ferry, Progreso postoffice and
Las Peladas. all occurring during Sep
TENDER last, are typical, In these at
ranzista adherents and even Carran-
zista soldiers took part in the looting
burning and killing. Not only were
these murders charact erized by ruth
less brutality, but uncivilized acts OF
mutilation were perpetrated.
Requests Have Proved Futile.
Representations were made to Gen
Carranza and he was emphatically re-
acts in section which he has Ions
claimed to be under the complete domi-
nation of his authority.
notwithstanding these representa-
tions and the promise of Gen. Nafar-
rete to prevent attacks along the in
month of October passenger train
was wrecked by bandits and severa
persons killed seven miles north OF
upon United states troops at the same
place several days later. Since these
| attacks leaders of the bandits, vel
known to both Mexican civil and mill
tary authorities as well to Ameri-
can officers. have been enjoying with
impunity the liberty of the towns OF
northern Mexico
So far has the Indifference of the
de facto government to these atroc
tiles gone that some of these leaders
as l am advised have received moi
only the protection of that government
but encouragement and aid well.
| Depredations upon American person,
and property within Mexican jurisdic.
ton have been still more numerous
quested in the strongest terms thai
the de facto government safeguard the
lives and homes of American citizen.
and furnish the protection which inter
. can interests in the northern states Of
Tamaulipas, Nuevo Leon, Coahuila
Chihuahua and Sonora and also in the
states to the south.
For example, Jan. 3, troops wer,
requested to punish the bands of out
laws which looted the Cusi mining
property, eighty miles west of Chi
huahua, but no effective results cam.
. During the following week tn,
bandit Villa with his band of abou
/ sition between Rubio and Santa Ysabel
, a fact well known to Carranzista au
thorities.
) Meanwhile party of unfortunate
. Americans started by train from Chi
huahua to visit the Cusi mines, afte
] having received assurances from tn,
, Carranzista authorities i'm the st ate o
. chihuahua that the country was SAT,
necessary The Americans held pass
ports or safe conducts issued by au
> thorities of the de facto governme mt
, on Jan. 10 the train was stopped b.
I villa bandits and eighteen Of tn
American party were stripped of thei
clothing and shot in cold blood in wha