The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-04-13

5MEXlco CITY, April 13.-The note
which the Mexican government has
sent 10 Washington Tor delivery TO
Secretary Lansing asks for "tlisoccI'
patton OF territory occupied by tsnl.
erican troops in view OF Villas parlE
having been destroyed" Throughout
the note emphasis is laid on the fact
that the American expedition was un'
dertaken under Misunderstanding
Although acting in good faith the
declaration is made that the United
sates had interpreted the first note OF
EeEde facto government as eHcctlns
Hfdehnite agreement between the two
nations. But the intention of the de
facto government was that no eSpe'
dition should be sent-intp Moxlco untd
Sthe conditions relative to an agree
lnent were defined.
The note declares, therefore that !"
consequence OF no iinal agreement
having been reached as to Terms u
the treaty to regulate the rec.proca.
e+nnssage of troops over the dividing
Siliie.g "lhe Mcxican government judges
y &c convenient TO suspend lor the pres
4 enti MI discussion or negotiations lii
this particular or founded on the cif'
5cunstances that The expedition sehl
blythe United States Government 70
pursue Villa i3 @A"sd- .Ounuatloh III
virtue OF the nonGXistence OF prerl.
.ous agreement. formal and Definite,
RiSNhat was intended by the note oI
March 10, it IS pointed out, was 10
submit a proposal Z" by means oi
which forces of one and the othet
Country should reciprocally cross the
dividing line in pursuit OF bandits II
unfortunately there should be repeatcA
along the border acts ike those COM
mitted in Columbus
The fact that the United States has
incorrectly interpreted the note oi
/ March 10 was called to the attention
y OF tho Washington government. tlI
statement points out, In note dateH
K March II. This note likewise enphl
sizes that the passage OF troops would
ne permitted "only II unfortunaicI?
\ from this time forward there shoul"
be repeated eruntions like the one
registered at Columbus, or any other
kind whatever, at any point OF the
frontier line"
On March IS. the statement contin
ues, Frank Polk, acting Secretary
State In an interview with the Carran'
"a ascOnf1dential agents, dcplored no,
ssfiaVing received The observation Oi
the Mexican government before Am
erican troops crossed the border Dc.
claring that the passage of troops zoos
place In the best Of faith and IN the be
lief that it would not be nec9ssary TO
enter into more details OF an agree
meflt which was considered definite
+ and ended. These declarations mud"
sbyy Mr.. Polk were later confirmed
March % to the Mexican representa-.
tive by Secretary Lansing, who sta
ted also that he was sorry at having
interpreted wrongly the contents o.
tile said note in respect to the pas9.
age Of troops and that they would
4 not advance more to the south Of the
place where they then were.
g'Reference is also made in the note
b to the declaration made by President
SWflson March % saying "the eXpedt.
tion was ordered under an agreement
with the de facto government Of
Mexico for the purpose on!S of captur.
ing the bandit villa. whose forces
have Invaded the territory of tho UNI
ted States and on no pretcXt whatever
would we order an invasion Of that
republic or a violation of its sover,
eighty"
aThat idea" continues the note
"published by his excellency. PreSl-
dent Wilson, was rectihed on March
81 by a message sent to our contiden.
tial agents in Washington, in which
lie e3was instructed TO call your attcn.
tion To- the idea indicated since tho
note OF March 10 referred to tho re.
JfproCal passage of troops only III
case3that incidents like those which
occurred at Columbus should be re-
peated.S
e 4