Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-03-28
Says Sinister and UnSCrupu-
IouS influences Are Seeking
to Bring About Intervention
by Wholesale FaISehoodS
(By Associated Press. )

dent Wilson tonight issued warning that
sinister and INSCRIPTIONS influences
are spreading alarmist reports about
the Mexican situation with the object
OF forcing Intervention by the United
States lin the interest Of certain Amerl-
can owners of Mexican properties"
In a formal statement the president
told the people to be on their guard and
no, TO credit such stories. He urgeI
those who disseminate news TO test the
source and authenticity of every report
from the border and called attention
again TO the governments announce
ment that the sole object of the punt
tive expedition was TO punish Villa and
his followers.
The news services had been asked,
the president said. TO assist in keeping
this view constantly before the Me1I-
can and American people. TIE purpose
Of the American commanders was Je-
scribed as embracing cooperation lin
every possible way with forces of
General Carranza and withdrawal from
Mexican territory as soon as the object
OF the expedition is accomplished.
people that there are persons all along
the border wac are actively engaged in
originating and giving as wide current
as they can TO rumors Of the most sen
sstiOnal and. disturbing sort which are
wholly unjustified by the facts"
The warning was issued after care
fui consideration by the president and
his advisers OF many official reports
from throughout the United States and
Mexico. including consular dispatches.
saying that alarmist stories of the in
tentions of Washington were having an
undesirable effect upon the Mexican
people and American residents in the
southern republic.
The possibility that General Carran-
"a IS hand might be weakened to a per-
iIous extent. should the Mexican pub
lie misunderstood the American eXpedi-
ton. has been a factor in the entire
operation against Villa. The question
Of alarnist reports was considered by
the cabinet yesterday and the presi-
dent conferred at length with Secretary
Lansing before he issued his warning
tonight.
Drastic steps may be taken il the
warning is not needed. Various sug-
gestions have been advanced for legal
procedure to remedy the situation. one
the law against circulation of reports
calculated to incite arson and riot.
EXECUTIVE WARNING.
The presidents statement follows:
As has already been announced,
the expedition into Mexico was or.
dered under an agreement with the de
facto government of Mexico for the
single purpose of taking the bandit
Villa, whose forces had actually
IL
States and is in no sense intended
as an invasion of that republic or
as an infringement of its sover-.
eighty.
Il have therefore asked the sew
eral news services to be good
enough to assist the administration
in keeping this view of the expedition
constantly before both the people OF
this country and the distressed and
sensitive people of Mexico, who are
very susceptible indeed to impress
sions received from the American
press. and are very ready to be-
lieve that those impressions pro-
coed from the views and objects OF
our government itself.
such conclusions, il must be
said. are not unnatural because the
main. not the only source of in
formation for the people on both
sues OF the IL NAac pubiiN
press of the United States.
I'm order TO avoid the creation of
erroneous and dangerous impress
sions I'm this way, I have called
upon the several news agencies to
use the utmost care not
to give news stories regarding
this expedition the color of war. to
withhold stories of troop movements
and military preparations which
might be given that Interpretation.
and. to refrain from publishing I'M
verified rumors of unrest in Mexico.
Il feel that il is most desirable
to impress upon both our own pso-
pie and the people of Mexico the
fact that the expedition is simply a
necessary punitive measure, aimed
solely at the elimination of the ma
RAIDERS who raided Columbus and
who infest an unprotected district
near the border which they use as
a base in making attacks upon the
lives and property of our citizens
within our own territory. 1t is the
purpose of our commander to CO.
operate in every possible way with
the forces of General Carranza in
removing this cause of irritation to
both governments and to retire
from Mexican territory as soon as
that object is accomplished.
1T is my duty to warn the people