Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-12-29
Americans to Consider

The latest suggestions Tor changes
in the agreement now will be consid-
cred by the three American represen-
Enthusiastically Lane. J. r. Mott
and Judge George Gray. Secretary
Lane advised his colleagues late today
of the character of the reply and ask
ed them to meet him here as soon as
convenient.
Joint Session Next Week
Early next week joint session of
the INSTRUMENTATION commission
will be held at which the Americans
will give the Mexicans their answer
and on it's nature depends the future
course of the commissioners, who were
directed more than four months ago
to effect if possible the adjustment Of
questions at issue between the two
countries.
Neither Mr.. Cabrera nor Secretary
Lane would discuss the nature of Car
ranza's reply. Mr.. Cabrera left for New
York soon after it's delivery and Sec
rotary Lane declined to reveal it's char
acter until it had been submitted to
his colleagues.
Mexicans Confident
It was learned that the Mexican
commissioners were confident that no
insuperable barrier had been raised by
CarranZa.
Avoids Offenss
1t was asserted that the utmost care
had been exercised to keep out of the
reply any expressions or sentiments that
might make the situation more complex
OF that would in any way offend the rep
resentatives of the American government.
The chief insistence Of Carranza has
been that the American troops should be
withdrawn Internationally, which the
American commissioners would not con-
slider 1t was indicated tonight that Car
ranzas insistence on that point was less
pronounced now. and that the change in
his attitude had been wrought largely by
the altered military situation in northern
Mexico.
Objects to Garrisons
There appeared reason to believe that
one of the conditions to which Carranza
now objects is that under which he would
be obliged to garrison the territory evac-
uated by the Americans as they marched
out. It was pointed out that since the
protocol was drafted the increased activ1-
ties of Villa and the steady growth of his
army of bandits has made it difficult for
Carranza to agree to use any consider
able part Of his army in the district
now occupied by Pershing when it might
be necessary to use the same force In
meeting more active moves OF Villa N
other points.
1,hose who have been in touch with
Carranza's representatives asserted that
in his latest representation OF the case
he expressed a willingness to ratify the
agreement If more definite date for the
troop withdrawal were specified and If
more Ienient attitude were displayed to-
wards the question of increased bandit
astivity.
Carranza holds that his government
n doing all that it humanely can to
restore order in the north and that 1t
win continue to do so. but the pres
erce OF the American troops on Mexi-
can soil is making the task more diff
cult by giving Villa and his lieutenants
a pretext for urging the disaffected to
toin him in his fight against Carran-
"a.
The failure of CarranZa fatly to re-
pudiate the protocol made 1t appear to-
day that the Americans would give his
communication due consideration and
that the next meeting of the joint COM
mission might be but the first of a
series at which would be continued the
efforts to effect a solution of the diff
ferent problems.
An interesting development in the
Mexican situation generally was pre-
sented today in reports to the State
and War departments on the changing
conditions in Mexico. When the COM
missioners adjourned at Atlantic City
there were few administration officials
who believed that Carranza's power
was seriously menaced. Since then Of
ficial reports have shown strength in
the different reactionary groups that
now is recognized as dangerous.