Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1916-03-27
NO POSSIBILITY
OF INTERVENING
SAYS PRESIDENT
SAYS so LONG AS SANE AND HONOR
ABLE MEN HOLD GOVERNMENT
INTERVENTION ROT OCCUR.
GIVES WARNING IN STATEMENT
AGAINST RUMoRs or DISTURBING
SORT FROM BORDER SOURCES.

influences are spreading alarmi-t re-
ports about the Mexican situation with the
object OF forcing intervention by the
United States I'm the interest Of certain
American owners OF Mexican properties
The president declared there are per
sons all along the border who are engaged
actively III originating and giving a wide
currency a. they can to rumors Of the
most sensational and disturbing sort which
are wholly unjustitied by the facts"
In a formal statement the president told
the people of the United States to be on
their guard and not 10 credit such stories.
lie urged those who disseminate news TO
test the source and authenticity Of every
report from the border and called atten-
ton again to the governments announce
ment that the sole object Of the punitive
expedition now in Mexico Is TO punish Villa
and his followers.
The new services supplying newspapers
had been asked, the president said. TO as
1T IN keeping this view constantly before
the Mexican people and the American peo-
pie to the end that the expedition should
not be given the color Of war.
The presidents statement follows:
As has already been announced. the
expedition into Mexico was ordered under
am agreement with the dc facto govern
ment Of Mexico for the single purpose OF
taking the bandit, Villa. whose forces had
actually invaded the territory Of the
United States, and i in no sense intended
n an invasion OF that republic or a. an
infringement Of Its sovereignty. have
therefore asked the several news services
to be good enough 70 assist the admins
~tratlon IN keeping this view of the expe-
ditlon constantly before the people Of this
country and the distressed and sensitive
people of Mexico. who are very suscep-
tible, indeed. 10 impressions received from
the American press and also very ready To
believe that those impressions proceed
from the views and objects Of our govern
ment itself. Such conclusions. 1t must be-
said, are not unnatural because the main.
II not the only source Of Information for
the people on BOTH sides of the border Is
the press Of the United States.
In order To avoid the creation of err
roneous and dangerous impressions in this
way, ! have called upon the several news
agencies To use the utmost care not to give
news stories regarding this expedition the
color Of war. To withhold stories of troop
movements and military preparations
which might be given that Interpretation,
and 10 refrain from publishing unvcrifcd
rumor- Of unrest IN Mexico.
~ feel that It l. most desirable 10 i'm
press upon both our own people and the
people NJ Mexico that the fact that the
expedition i- n mply a necessary punitive
measure, aimed -"iciy III the elimination
81 the marauGcr~ who raided Columbus
ana who infc-t am unprotected district
near the border, which they use az a base
N making attacks upon Jhc lives and prop
crty on orr citizens within eur own ter
rltorr.
III il the purpo-" of our commander ~
cooperate ~ every way possible with 'h,
forces IF General Carranza IN removing
this cause of irritation to both govern
ment~ and - retire from Mexican terri
tory a. soon a. that object d, accom-
pli~hed.
III In my dufy fo warn the people oil The
United States that there ere persons an
ALONG the border who arc actively engaged
~ originating and giving a. wide currency
a. they can 10 rumors of the most ~cnsa-
tIonal and disturbing sort which are wholly
uniu-tiied hv the facts.
"The object W this traffic III fal-chood
A. obvious. II IL 10 create intolerablc fric-
ton between the governments OF the Unit
I'd States and the a. facto government of
Mexico. for the purpose OF bringing about
intervention in the interest ~ certain
American owners Of Mexican properties.
This object can not be- obtained w long
a. sane and honorable men are in control
Of this government, bat very serious con
ditions may be created, Unnecessary
hlood~hcd may result and the relations be-
tween the two republic may be very much
embarrassed The people Of the United
States should know the sinister and un-
scrGpuIous influences that are afoot aud
should ~ on their guard against crediting
amy story coming from the border: and
these who disseminate the news should
make 4 4 matter Of patriotism and 0fsan-
science to test the source and authenticity
ot every report they receive from that
quarter"