Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1916-10-27
MEX|CANS PLOT TO
FORCE. AMERICA
TO FIGHT MEXICO
Expect to Force President to
Act On Account Of
Election
STATEMENT Is MADE AS
WARNING TO CARRANZA
Plan of Revolutionists Is to
Attack Pershing's Army
to Start Trouble

Washington, Oct. 27.- Secretary of
War Baker and Secretary of State
Lansing both declared today that
Mexican, not American, plotter is re-
sponsible for the border raid danger
outlined in Bakers startling statement
of last night
81 cannot imagine any American citi-
zen so unpatriotic, heartless and wanton
as to join in such action" said the Sec
retary of state.
"The Mexican opponents of the de
facto government said Secretary Bak
er, "would, of course, be glad to COM
plicate the relations between the United
states and Mexico and our information
is that they think this is an appropriate
time to do SO. The statement made by
the department ought to discourage any
adventure on their part in this direc-
tion.'
Administration officials said today
Bakers statement was intended as a
warning to the Mexican government
and a guarantee Of the American gov
ernment s good faith. The administra-
tion expects the Carranza government
to take final and effective measures for
| Secretary Baker returned today from
Martinsburg, w Va, where he spoke
last night.
Shows Our Good Faith.
The belief of other administration
leaders as well as Bakers own was ex-
pressed in the startling statement of
last night The administration, by max
| ing public its knowledge of a danger
seriously threatening the relations be-
tween this government and the Carran-
za government, expects Carranza to
realize fully this government s unself-
ish purpose. In consequence it hopes
| for more active cooperation between
the military forces of the two countries
for common action against the Mexican
bandits.
Discussing his statement today Secre
tary Baker said:
"The obviously appropriate comment
of the secretary of state should pre-
vent any possible misunderstanding OF
| the purpose of the statement"
| Baker referred to Lansing's state
ment that conspirators on the American
side are Mexicans and not Americans
"There is not the slightest political
\ III lht icouihb VI INV 'No'N
ment at this time,' Baker said. He ad-
mitted that some Of the most important
| information on which the statement was
based. only reached the department half
Ian hour before he issued the statement
yesterday afternoon.
Referring to the "enemies of the ad-
ministration" phrase in his statement
Baker said: "The Mexican opponents
of the de facto government of Mexico
would be only too glad to complicate the
relations between the United States and
Mexico. Our information is that they
think this is an appropriate time to do
so. The statement made by the depart
ment ought to discourage any such ad-
venture on their part in that direc'
tion.o
| There is reason to believe that should
the Carranza government ignore the
opportunity presented and fail to brisg
about a better condition in Mexico, the
American government will seriously
consider Independent action toward that
end.
May Check Conspiracy.
Baker s statement is also expected to
have an important effect in checking
the reported conspiracy on the Ameri-
can side of the border. While no def
mite statement could be obtained to-
day, the impression was given that
these consiprators are Mexican cienti.
ficos of the Diaz faction and Diaz
agents, who have headquarters in sew
eral large eastern cities and in borde'
towns The financing of the Villistas
and other bandits is being done by the
leaders in the east, through agents
along the border in Mexico. Attention
was first called to the possibility OF the
plot by the paying of the bandits in
silver, which is scarce in Mexico, even
the government lacking it.
For weeks the war department has
been working upon reports received
from the interior in Mexico by army
officers, agents Of the state and justice
departments and the secret service. The
source of supply of the silver was traced
TO the American side of the border, 1t
(Continued on mage fiye,)