The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-02

A reply will be made to Ger
 not been determined upon toni;
 hasty translation of the long co
 rected text is being prepared b
 While official comment is withheld,
 it is understood that the tone of the
 document is regarded as decidedly or
 fensive and certain portions of it, such
 as inc thinly yelled accusation that
 the President is playing domestic pol
 itics in retaining the troops in Mexico,
 may draw a sharp rebuke. It is doubt
 full. according to authorities on the ln-
 terEational correspondence of the
 United States, if the government ever
 has received a communication couched
 in as offensive terms and containing
 as many apparent violations of the
 ordinary uses of diplomatic courtesy
 as this 12,000-word arraignment of it's
 good faith and honesty of purpose.
 WILSON TO DECIDE
 COURSE TO PURSUE
 President Wilson himself will decide
 what course shall be pursued. So far as
 could belearned tonight no conferences
 or preliminary inquiries have yet been initiated to determine the nature of the An, are nc fV
 so far as the withdrawal of the troops is concerned. There is no indication that
 that possibility is even being considered.
 The President left Washington tonight for Annapolis to attend graduating ex-
 ercises tomorrow at the Naval academy Unless there are unforeseen developments he probably will spend the weekend
 aboard the yacht Mayfower and return
 Monday This in itself will delay any
 early reply to Carranza, and it is gen.
 erally believed that no answer will be framed for a week or 10 days.
 The Mexican note was sent by messen-
 ger, requiring week in transit, and was further delayed after its arrival here Officials feel there can be no question \ of urgency in communication so han J dled and will not treat it as pressing
 matter.
 NOTE CAUSES HARDLY
 A RIPPLE IN WASHINGTON
 AS a matter of fact the note caused hardly a ripple in administration circles No new orders went to General Funston beyond a request by officials of the gem eral staff for detailed information as to disposition of Carranza troops. In view of the notes open threat of an attack on Pershing's column it was thought wise to give attention to the military prob lem. although no doubt is felt as to the complete security of the American force under any circumstances.
 The Mexican embassy distributed copies < of the note to all embassies and lesa- X lions in Washington today explaining that if did so in an effort to enlist the ( sympathy of other governments for the \ cause it set forth. Presumably this was \ done under direction of General Carra1za \ himself Neither state department ol- \ ficials nor members of the diplomatic corps would comment on this phase Of < the matter. \ Some diplomatic officials expressed the opinion, however, that European nliu- I ences might be behind the move While <. others thought it merely an attempt to gain publicity and noted that the matter was urged just on the eve of the political IS conv enion in the United States.
 x PREPARED TO REFUTE
 4 MANY OF STATEMENTS
 Officials are prepared to refute many % of the statements of the Carranza note, should the President desire to enter into a discussion of facts in his reply. Among these are repeated declarations that General Scott chief of staff, spe- N officially agreed with General Obregon M that no new expeditions should cross H the border and admitted that ihe ob- ject of General Pershing's drive into Mexico had been accomplished. 1t IS K known that General Scott had no such understanding when the El Paso con- X ference ended On the contrary, Tn A common with other army officers, he & is said to hold that under the original & exchange of notes as we'll as under the N Scott -Obregon understanding the Uni- N ted States has complete liberty to fol- M low any hot trail across the line. There b was nothing to indicate today that d ! third expedition would not be sent im- i mediately' should the need arise.
 As to the object of the expedition
 having been accomplished, army offi-
 cials believe that only the presence of ' General Pershings force where it as
 sured large part of the border of
 freedom from attack. They are not dis
 posed to depend on repelling invasion
 ct the line when it is feasible to pre-
 (continued on Paxe scven1