The Benson signal., 1916-07-01
lis known as the Santa Ysabel massa-
Carra.zu promised to Punish As.a..lns.

g..
Carraaza Promised to Punish Assassins.
Gen. Carranza stated to the agent
of the Department of State that he
had issued orders for the immediate
pursuit, capture and punishment of
those responsible for this atrocious
| and to the American people to con-
slider the difficulties of according pro-
| lection along the railroad where the
massacre occurred.
Assurances were also given by Mr..
| Arredondo, presumably under tnstruc-
| tions from the de facto government,
| that the murdererS would be brought
to justice and that steps would also
| be taken to remedy the lawless cOndi-
| tions existing in the state of Durango.
1t is true that Villa, Castro and Lopez
were publicly declared to be outlaws
and subject to apprehension and ex-
ecution, but so far as known only a
single man personally connected with
this massacre has been brought to
| justice by Mexican authorities.
Here follows denunciation of the
activities of Villa, carried on with the
knowledge of the Carranza authorities
and without any attempt by them to
stop or capture him. The elimination
Iof the outfAWry in the raid on Colum-
bus is given as the cause for. sending
United States troops into Mexico.
| The expedition has had no sco-oper-
| alton from the Carranza forces, the
note says, but has been confronted by
| obstacles imposed by the Carranza Of
ficials Despite this a partial retire.
ment was ordered after the conference
and General Obregon, In the expecta-
| tion that Carranza forces finally would
act But they have failed to do so
and the retirement was stopped.
Will CO..tinue Embargo ON Arms.
Mexican charges of bad faith on the
part of the United States because the
withdrawal was stopped are answered
| with the statement that this was be-
cause of the failure Of Carranza to do
his duty, and because of the hostility
| shown the American forces by Car
rama officers and soldiers. 1t is added
I that as long as this situation continues
the United States will not permit the
export of war munitions nor machines
for their manufacture to Mexico.
| The note then continues:
In view of the actual state of affairs
I am now in a position to consider the
| conclusions which you have drawn In
your note under acknowledgment from
| the erroneous statements of fact which
| you have set forth.
| Your government 1nt1mateS, II IL
| does not openly charge, that the att1-
| tude of the United States is one of in
sincerity, distrust and suspicion to-
ward the defacto government of Mexl-
| CO, and that the intention of the Unit
ed States in sending it's troops into
| Mexico is to extend it's sovereignty
over Mexican territory and not merely
for the purpose of pursuing marauders
and preventing future raids across the
border.
The de facto government charges by
Implication which admits of but one
Interpretation that this government
dizement, even at the expense of a war
of aggression against neighbor
weakened by years of civil strife.
u. s. Overlooked Better Opportunities.
The government Of the United States,
If it had had designs, upon the terri
90 hor ho1
difficulty in finding, during this
period of revolution and disorders,
many plausible arguments for inter-
vention in Mexican affairs. Hoping,
would, through their own efforts, re-
store peace and establish an orderly
government, the United States has
awaited with patience the consumma-
tion of the revolution. -
When the superiority of the revolu-
| tionary faction led by CarranZa be-
came undoubted, the United States, aft
er comforting with six others of the
ditionally the present de facto govern
ment. 1t hoped and expected that that
government would speedily restore or
der and provide the Mexican people
and others who had given their en-
ergy and substance to the develop
ment of the great resources of the re-
public opportunity to rebuild in peace
and security their shattered fortunes
Policy of Waiting Called to Attention.
This government has waited month
after month tor the consummation OF
its hope and expectation In spite Of
repeated provocations to exercise
force in the restoration of order in the
northern regions of Mexico, where
American interests have suffered most
seriously from laWlessness, the govern
ment of the United States has refrained
from aggressive action and sought by
appeals and moderate. though explicit,
demands to impress upon the de facto
government the seriousness of the sit
uation and to arouse 1t to its duty to
j perform Its international obligations
i toward citizens of the United States
4 who had entered the territory of Mex
leo or had vested interests within it's
boundaries.
If the Mexican government is unable
or unwilling to protect the United
tory from being the rendezvous and
refuge of murderers and plunderers,
that does not relieve this government
from it's duty to take all the steps
| necessary to safeguard American citi-
zens on American SOIL
Will Not Respect Border Any Longer.
The United States government can
not and will not allow bands of law
less men to establish themselves upon
it's borders with liberty to invade and
plunder American territory with i'm
punity. when pursued, to seek safety
across the Rio. Grande, relying upon
integrity of the soil of the Mexican
republic must not be violated
The Mexican government invites the
United States to support it's "assur-
ances of friendship with real and ef-
fective acts" which "can be no other
than the immediate withdrawal of the
American troops" This request of the
de facto government cannot now be
entertained
The United States has not sought the
duty which has been forced upon it
of pursuing bandits who under funda-
mental principles of municipal and in
ternational law, ought to be pursued
and arrested and punished by Mexi-
can authorities. Whenever Mexico will
assume and effectively exercise that
responsibility the United States, as it
many times before publicly declared,
will be glad to have this obligation
fulfilled by the de facto government
of Mexico.
Threat of War Made to Carranza.
IT, on the contrary the de facto gov
ernment is pleased to ignore this OBJ
legation and to believe that in case OF
a refusal to retire these troops there
is no further resource than ito defend
it's territory by an appeal to arms,''
the government of the United States
| would surely be lacking in sincerity