Cheraw chronicle. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1896-2005, 1916-05-04

Ell Paso, Texas, April 29.-Two con-
flicting propositions developed imme-
diately after the beginning in the
Mexican customs house in Juarez late
today Of the conference TO decide the
future disposition Of the American eX.
peditionary forces in Mexico.
They are understood temporarily to
have increased the gravity of the nego-
tiations.
Fresh Reports of Villas Death.
In addition, another factor is be-
lieved to have been injected into the
situation by the receipt of fresh re-
ports that Francisco Villa is dead.
MeIico's consul Andres Garcia said
Col. Carlos Carranza had telegraphed
him from Cusihuirichic that he had
been unable to find Villas body, but
that he had established beyond dis
pute that the bandit leader was dead
and he hoped to recover the body in a
few days. The telegram said all the
evidence tended to confirm the death
Of Villa.
This telegram is understood to have
been laid before the confereees but
none would confirm or deny 1t.
Meeting Behind Closed Doors.
The initial meeting which lasted
two hours was held behind closed
doors in the big. green-tinted room
which Villa used as his council cham
Der when he dominated northern
Mexico and Juarez was his headquar-
ters. Another conference will be held
April 3Oth. in Ell Paso.
Reiterate Desire for Withdrawal.
Major General Scott and Funston
represented the United States. The
Mexican conferees were Central AL
varo Obrgon, Mexican Minister Of
War, and General Jacinto Trevino,
military commander of the northeast
district OF Mexico. The progress of
the negotiations was not divulged, but
from an authoritative source two
things We're learned:
First, that, the Mexican represen-
tatives reiterated the wish expressed in
General Carranza's recent note to the
Washington Government that the
American troops should be withdrawn
from Mexican soil at an early date.
Second, that they were informed by
the American officials that the latter
were not empowered to discuss the
withdrawal Of General Pershing's col
umps.
Would Bring Oh Q Deadlock.
1t is understood the American rep
resentatives told the Mexican officials
that if the de facto Government in
sisted on an American withdrawal
that the conference would go into
deadlock and the whole matter would
divert to a diplomatic discussion be-
tween Washington and Mexico City.
Must Cooperate Against Bandits.
The Mexicans, it is understood, were
further informed that the purpose OF
the present conference SO far as the
United States is concerned is the de-
velopment of specific plan for the
cooperation Of the American and de
facto armies in wiping out the bandit
groups that have caused so much
bloodshed along the border and have
repeatedly taken American life in the
interior Of Mexico.
It is understood that General Obre-
gon, prior to the conference, openly
expressed a disinclination to discuss
any other subject than withdrawal
and that he carried his attitude into
the initial meeting.
No Intervention Likely.
In we'll Informed quarters, however,
the opinion was freely expressed that
to lead to any definite disagreement.
1t was pointed out there that the Car
rama Government could not afford to
take any step that would endanger its
present peaceful relations with Wash
ington. AS far as the United States
was concerned, it was argued, 1t has
consistently held to big brother
policy toward the country south OF
the Rio Grande and had repeatedly
announced itself against Intervention.
Joint Policing of Territory.
This agreement, it was believed
would provide for a joint policing of
tho bandit-infested territory of Chi
huehua, with the American army sta
toned some distance south Of the Rio
Nr,nd. In posifion IN art aS buffer