Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1916-05-03
0pREGON NOT TO
INSIST TROOPS
BE WITHDRAWN
Mexican War Minister Con-
cludes Washington Will
Not Bend.
CONFERENCE GOES
ON SATISFACTORILY
Generals scott and ObregOn Issue
Statement, Saying They Hope to
Reach ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS OF.
iers to Put 10000 Men in North.

lecS 10 Itl 1V,WW wen Ill NOfIn.
FL Paso, May 2.-Marked progress
toward an agreement was made today
! by the Americans and Mexicans in
conference considering United States
troop dispositions in Mexico, according
to unofficial but authoritative infOr-
nation.
1t is believed now the matter may
be threshed out in the next day or
so. This progress was due to the
fact, il was said, that General Obre-
gOn, the de facto Mexican government
minister of war, had concluded there
was no possibility of altering the in
tention of the Washington govern
ment not to withdraw General PERISH
ing's eXpeditionary force Immediate
ly.
The attitude of the Mexican minis
ter of war is believed to have been de-
scribed by a Mexican official closely
conversant with the entire situation,
who said today:
Between the two evils, you must
choose the lesser. 1t would be folly
to suppose the de facto government
desires war"
At o'clock tonight. eight hours aft
or his conference with General Obre-
gon, General Scott handed the follow
ing statement to the Associated Press:
1--WE are still comforting in the
spirit of mutual good will. and hope
to arrive at solution that will be
satisfactory to both our governments.
There will be nothing more for pub
licat!on."
This statement was signed by Gen.
eral Scott and General Obregon.
General Obregon tonight reported
to General Carranza that the negotia-
tons were proceeding satisfactorily
to both sides.
Trouble Not Likely.
A Mexican conferee said today that
even though the request was not met
son for fear that serious trouble be-
tween the two countries would fol-
low.
"The whole question of withdrawing
the troops" said the Carranza Off
cial. will then revert to Washington
for future negotiations between the
state department and the Mexican am
bassador. At the conference here we
have given reasons from military
standpoint why the American soldiers
should retire to their own territory,
and this information should be valu-
able in a future determination of the
question. The American generals
were ready today to submit details
for cooperation between the Carranza
and American forces in the pursuit of
Villa and his bands, but it was under
stood that General Obregon would
suggest that he did not feel disposed
to DISCUSS that proposal because of
certain diplomatic phases, but would
acquaint the first chief with the mat
ter. Should the minister of war take
this position, it was thought that the
conference would then be ended and
both. sides would make their reports
to their respective governments"
Carranza Promises to Control.
Washington. May 2.-Developments
in the Mexican situation waited to-
night advices from General Scott as to
his furter conferences with General
Oregon at Ell Paso.
The war department has received
no report from the chief of staff up
10 a late hour. Administration Of
ficials declare the situation unchanged
and there was no indication tonight of
a change in the determination of
President Wilson not to accept any
proposal of the Carranza government
on the immediate with
drawal of the American forces.
From Mexican sources, it was
learned today that based upon the inn
mediate withdrawal of the American
troops, General Carransa has offered
to locate an active army of $4,000
men in Northern Mexico as soon as
the American forces are withdrawn.
Officials maintained silence as to
the nature of the new instructions to
Genera Scott. 1t is believed however,
that he was authorized to tell General
Oregon tina! while no proposition for
immediate withdrawal would be enter
tanned the United States would well
come a demonstration Of the inten-
ton and ability of the de facto gov
eminent to carry out its program and
there is reason to believe the Amer
lean officers have authority to make
in the way Of limiting the
zones in which Pershing's forces will
operate.
ARC VOJy TInCKVq