The Tomahawk. [volume] (White Earth, Becker County, Minn.) 1903-192?, 1916-06-29
along the railroad where the massacre

| occurred.
Assurances were also given by Mr.
| tons from the de facto government
that the murderers would be brough,
nstee amd that steps Woud SG
existing in the state of Durango.
villa Not Intercepted.
1T is true that Villa, Castro and Lo-
PEI We're publicly declared to be out;
execution, but so far as known only a
single man personally connected with
this massacre has been brought to JUS
| tice by Mexican authorities.
"Within month after this barbar-
| GUS slaughter Of inoffensive America ms
it was notorious that Villa was operat-
and publicly stated that his purpose
was to destroy American lives and
property. Despite repeated and inss-
should be furnished to Americans. Villa
still openly carried on his operations,
cosa to the b9rdsr Gas not
tercepted nor were his movements inn
peded by troops Of the de facto govern
ment and, no effectual attempt was
against Americans.
Americans Pursued Band.
I'm fact, as I am informed, while
Villa and his band were moving toward
f hood % of ib19'' n H. inc snee
Mexican soldier was seen in his vicin-
ity. Yet Mexican authorities We're ful-
March 6, as General Gavira publicly
announced, he advised the American
military authorities of the outlaws ap-
osnition on it's part of the deslrability
of putting an end to these systematic
raids or Of Furnishing the chief ;t perP pc
traitors of the crimes committed be-
cause they menaced the good relations ations
of the two countries. American forces
pursued the lawless bands as f t,+a as
nJ1TSn1f
by the hostility of Mexicans. presumed
to be loval to the de facto goVernment
outiawry and became in effect protec-
tors of villa and his band.
Resents Cnrranzn Charges.
I'm this manner and for these rea,
sons have the American forces ,,1 ente req
sst fdr31 tbe de- faeto
government cannot be blind to the ne
cessity which compelled this govern
ment to act ana yet 1T mas seen Of l." hos,
tility towards the expedition and to
impute to this government Interior mo- O.
tves for the conti n1ue = presence eei1 Oh
1T is charged that these troops
crossed the frontier without I'm rs 1T fhe
da facto 'n government obviously as i'm
mediate action alone could avail there
was no opportunity to reach an agree
ment lother than that oo of Mar rarra aTi
nrior to the entrance of such an expe-
dition into Mexico if the expedition was
to be effective. subsequent e tratd a4 no
the satisfaction of this government that
General Carranza would not have en-
tered into any agreeme1n,t, pron tra az. iod
destruction of the Villa bands
Impeded Progress.
"While the American troops were
moving rapidly southwark in pursuit of
the raiders. it was the form and nature
tenticn of General CarranZa rather than
the particular object which it was to at.
he of the
forces to impede their progress rather
than the obstacles that could be raised
to prevent TIE escape of the o vita ss-
all discussions and negotiations for an
agreement along the lines OF the pro-
cluded during the period 1SS2-1SS6, I'M
der which the two, countries had SO sue
csssfully restored h peacerul nav rs
mentioned here that. notwithstanding.
the sta tement in your note that the
to IT the INC note of the 18th of April :his
note was replied to on April IA: when
the department instTucted NM mr. n0seps
ment's answer to General Carranza.
Clearly Il Mis-stntement.
"Shortly after this reply, the confer
ence between Generals Scott Funston
and Obregon began at El Paso. during
of a memorandum 'ad referendum re-
garding the withdrawal of American
troops AS an. indication of the alleged
you state that though General Scott
declared in this memorandum that the
destruction and dispersion of the Villa
band had been accomplished yet Amer
far Withdrawn from
Mexico.
1T is only necessary to read the mem
guage. to ascertain that this is clearly
a missta tement, for the memorandum
states that the American punitive, ex-
peditionary forces +h have y, S destroyed or
into. the. interior of the republic of
Mckee,"
And Furthermore, the United States
forces were then carrying on a vigorous
pursuit Of such small numbers Of ban
dts or lawless elements as may have
escaped.
Lansing Recites Agreement.
"The context of your note gives the
impression that the object of the expe-
dition being admittedly accomplished
memorandum to begin the withdrawal
of it's troops. The MEMORANDUM shows,
however. that it was not alone on ac-
dts dts; that it it wa, was decided to begin the
Withdrawal Of American forces, but
equally on account Of the assurances OF
the Mexican government that their
forces were at the present time being
augmented and strengthened to such an
extent that they will be able to pre-
vent a disorder occurring in Mexico that
would in any way endanger American
territory and that they would continue
to diligently pursue. capture or destroy
any lawless bands Of bandits that ma y
still exist or hereafter exist in the
northern paM of Mexico and that IT
would make proper distribution OF
such of its forces as may be necessary
to prevent the possibility of invasion
Of American territory from Mexico"
Planned Slow Withdrawal.
ut was because of these assurances
and because of General SCOTS conf
dence that they would be carried out
that he stated in his memorandum tina,
the American forces would be 'gradu-
ally withdrawn 1t is to be noted that
while the American government was
willing to ratify this agreement, Gen
eral CarranZa refused to do so, as Cen
eral Oregon stated, because among
other things, it imposed improper con-
ditions upon the Mexican government
Notwithstanding the assurances in
the memorandum it is we'll known that
the forces Of the de facto government
have not carried on vigorous pursuit
of the remaining bandits and that no
proper distribution Of forces to pre-