South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-06-20

7 prise that, after such manifestations
/ OF hostile feeling. the United States
was doubtful OF the purpose for
which the large amount OF ammuni-
| ton was TO be used which the de
/ factO government appeared eager 10
import from this country. Moreover.
the policy OF the de facto govern
ment in refusing 10 cooperate and in
failing 10 act independently in de-
stroying the villa bandits and in
( otherwise suppressing outlawry in
/ the vicinity OF the border SO as to
remove the danger Of war materials,
while passing southwark through
this zone, falling into the hands OF
I the enemies of law and order is in
the opinion of this government. a
satisfactory ground. even if there
were no other. for the refusal TO al
low such materials to cross the bOr-
der into the bandit-infested region.
To have permitted these shipments
without careful scrutiny would, in
J the circumstances, have been to
manifest a sense of security which
would have been unjustified.
Menace to Troops.
''Candor compels me TO add that
the unconcealed hostility of the sub
ordinate military commanders of the
de facto government toward the
American troops engaged in pursu-
ing the Villa bands and the efforts
of the de facto government to COM
pei their withdrawal from Mexican
territory by threats and show Of
military force instead OF by aiding
in the capture of the outlaws con-
stitute a menace to the safety OF the
American troops and to the peace
of the border As long as this men
ace continues and there is any evi-
dence OF an intention on the part
OF the de facto government or its
military commanders TO use force
| against the American troops in
stead Of cooperating with them, the
: government OF the United States
/ viii not permit munitions of war or
machinery for their manufacture TO
be exported from this country 10
/ Mexico.
"As TO the shelter and supply of
/ rebels and conspirators on American
/ territory. / can state that vigorous
/ efforts have been and are being
made by the agents Of the United
/ States TO apprehend and bring to
/ justice all persons found to be con-
spring TO violate the laws of the
! United States by orGanizing to OPP
pose with arms the de facto govern
! ment of Mexico.
Real Situation.
Having corrected the erroneous
statements of fact TO which / have
adverted, the real situation stands
forth in its true light 1t is adj
mitted that American troops have
crossed the international boundary
in hot pursuit Of the Columbus raid
ers and without notice to or the
consent of your government, but the
several protestations on the part OF
this government by the president
by this department and by other
American authorities that the OBJ
ject of the expedition was to cap
ture and destroy or completely dis
/ perse the Villa bands of outlaws OF
10 turn this duty over TO the Mex
it would be effectively fulfilled, have
been carried out in perfect good
faith by the United States. It's eff
forts have been INSTRUCTED at every
point; first. by insistence on a pal
pable agreement which you admit
was either not TO apply to the pres
ent expedition or was TO contain
impracticable restrictions on its or
ganization and operations; then by
actual opposition, encouraged anO
fostered by the de factor govern
ment, to the further advancement
of the expedition into Villa terri
tory, was followed by the sudden
suspension of all negotiations for al
arrangement for the pursuit OF
Villa and his followers and the pro
lection of the frontier; and. finally
by a demand for the immediate
withdrawal of the American troops
Meantime, conditions of anarchy il
the border states of Mexico were
continually growing worse.
In view Of this increasing men.
ace of the inactivity of the Car
rama forces. of the lack of cooper.
alton in the apprehension of the
Villa bands, and of the known en-.
cOuragement and aid given 10 bandi
leaders. it is unreasonable to expect
the United States to withdraw its
forces from Mexican territory or tC
prevent their entry again wher
their presence is the only checl
upon further bandit Outrages and
the only efficient means of protect
ing American lives and homes
safeguards which Gen. Carranza
though internationally obligated &c