The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1916-03-16
AGREEMENT WITH
CARRANzA FORCES
MEXICAN TROOPS WILL BE AL
LOVED TO CROSS BORDER
LINE.
PLAN TO CATCH BANDITS
American Government Expects Hearty
Cooperation Of Carranza Forces
in Hunt For Villa.

WashingtOn.-The United States
Government entered into a formal
agreement with the de facto govern
ment of Mexico under which the
American troops will cross the border
to hunt down Villa and his bandits
with the expectation of hearty CO.
operation from the Carranza forces.
Secretary Lansing made public the
text of note. accepting General Car
ranza's proposal for a reciprocal ar
rangement between the two Govern
ments and announcing that the
United States held this arrangement
to be now in force and binding upon
both parties. General Funston will
carry out his task under agreement.
Official announcement was awaited
that the American forces had crossed
the border. Plans for the troop move
ments have gone ahead without re-
gard to the diplomatic exchanges.
Mr.. Lansing also made public a state
ment issued in the name of President
Wilson reiterating that every step be-
ing taken by the administration was
based on the deliberate intention to
W CSAuuC lllO pOoolU1lily VI al huOo Al
tervention in Mexico. It follows:
"In order to remove any apprehen-
sion that may exist either in the
United States or in Mexico, the Presl-
dent has authorized me to give in
his name the public assurance that
the military operations now in con-
temptation by this government will
lo @o !,
ject already announced and that in
nc circumstances will they be suffer
ed to infringe in any degree upon the
sovereignty of Mexico or develop into
Intervention of any kind in the in
ternal affairs Of our sister republic.
con the contrary, what is now be-
i-1s done, IL deliberately intended to
preclude the possibility Of interven-
ton"
The note to Carranza defines the
terms Of the agreement beyond the
possibility of misconstruction. In
brief it provides that where condi-
tions arise on the Mexican side of
the border similar to those at Colum-
bus which led to the orders to Cen
eral Funston, to enter Mexico, the
same privilege will be accorded to
the Mexican de facto Government
without the necessity Of further ex
change of views. 1t is clearly stated
! however, that the bandits to be pur.
sued on American soil by Mexican
troops must have come from the
/ American side, committed depreda
ticns on the Mexican side and fled
! back again to United States territory
There is no such instance on record
iii recent years.
Officials of the Mexican Embassy
here were jubi1ant over the accep
| tance of General Carranza's proposal
by the United States. The Ambassa
/ dor Designate Eliseo Arreddondo
withheld comment pending advices
from his chief, but other officials
! made no secret of their entire salts
| faction with the American note. Il
was transmitted promptly to Genera
Carranza. Some officials said tha
while a few extreme radicals among
| Carranza adherents might show op
| position to the agreement, this ele
| ment would not be important, MOI
would it influence the relations be
tween the two governments.
To prevent any war munitions from
reaching Villa from the United State!
the Treasury Department instructed
it's collectors at San Francisco, No
gales and Los Angeles to place al
embargo on shipments of arms ant
ammunition through those points int
Mexico. The embargo effects tn
principal commercial gateways int
Chihuahua, Sonora and Lower Cali
fornia and is regarded as sufficient il
extent to make certain that Villa will
not be supplied from this country
The whole matter is in Genera
Funston's hands. He is planning
carefully his moves on the huge ches
board of northern Mexico, where h
is to match his wits with Villa. Hi
deliberation, officers here say, is ca
culated to make certain the result be
fore the first shot is fired.
10000 Troops on Border.