Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-06-20

button of such of it's forces as may
be necessary to prevent the possibility
of invasion of American territory from
Mexico 1t was because of these as
surances and because of General
Scotts confidence that they would be
carried out that he stated in the
memorandum that the American
forces would be gradually withdrawn
1t is to be noted, that while the Amer
lean government was willing to ratify
this agreement General Carranza re-
fused to do So as General Obregon
stated, because, among other things,
1t imposed improper conditions upon
the Mexican government.
Have Made No Pursuit
Notwithstanding the assurances in
the memorandum, it is we'll known
that the forces of the de facto govern
ment have not carried on a vigorous
pursuit of the remaining bandits and
that no proper distribution of forces
to prevent the invasion of American
territory has been made as Will be
shown by the further facts hereinafter
set forth. / am reluctant to be forced
to the conclusion which might be
drawn from these circumstances that
the de facto government, In spite of
the crimes committed and the sinister
designs of Villa and his follows, did
not and does not now intend or desire
that these outlaws should be captured,
destroyed or dispersed by American
troops or at the request of this gov
ernment, by Mexican troops.
Attacked During Conference
while the conferences at Ell Paso
were in progress, and after the Ameri-
can conferees had been assured on
May 2 that the Mexican forces in the
northern part of the, republic were
pd n IA q
TO prevent any disorders that would
endanger American territory by bands
of MeXicans, on the night of May 8,
made an attack at Glenn Springs,
Texas, about 90 miles north of the
border, killing American soldiers and
civilians, burning and sacking prop
erty and carrying off two Americans as
prisoners. Subsequent to this event
the Mexican government, as you state,
| gave instructions to General Obregon
to notify that of the United States
! that it would not permit the further
| passage of American troops into Mex
leo on this account and that orders
had been given to all military COM
manders along the frontier not to
consent to same"
This government is of course not in a
position to dispute the statement that
these instructions had been given to
| General Obregon, but it can decisively
assert that General Obregon never
gave any such notification to General
Scott or General Funston or, so far as
known to any other American official.
General Obregon did, however, inquire
| as to whether American troops had
entered Mexico in pursuit of the Glenn
Springs raiders, and General Funston
stated that no orders had been issued
! to American troops to cross the from
| tier on account of the raid but this
statement was made before any such
orders had been issued, and not af-
terwards, as the erroneous account of
the interview given in your note
would appear to indicate
Further discussion of the Glenn
Springs raid, the note says is not
necessary because the American
forces sent in pursuit of the bandits
recrossed into Texas on the morning
of May %, the date of your note un-
der considerations further proof of
the singleness of purpose of this gov
ernment in endeaVoring to quell dis
order and stamp out lawlessness along
the border
L. S. Attitude Mistaken
"I have noted the fact that your
communication is not limited to a dis
cussion of the deplorable conditions
existing along the border and their
important bearing on the peaceful re-
lations of our governments, but that
an effort is made TO connect 1t with
other circumstances in order to sup
port if possible, a mistaken interpre-
tation of the attitude of the govern
ment of the United States toward
Mexico. You state In effect that the
American government has placed
every obstacle in the way of attain
ing the pacification of Mexico and
that this is shown by the volume of
diplomatic representations in behalf
of American interests which constant
ly impede efforts TO reorganize the po-
litical, economical and social condi-
tions of the country; by the decided
aid lent at one time to Villa by Amer
lean officers and by the Department of
State; by the aid extended by the
American Catholic clergy to that of
Mexico; by the constant activity of the
American press in favor of interVen-
ton and the interests of American
businessmen; by the shelter and sup
ply of rebels and conspirators on
American territory; by the detention
of shipments of arms and munitions
purchased by the Mexican govern
ment, and by the detention of ma
chinery intended for their manufac-
ture.
Every Possible announcement
In reply to this sweeping charge. ]
can truthfully affirm that the Amer
ican government has given every pos
sible encouragement to the de factc
government in the pacification and
rehabilitation of Mexico. From the
moment of its recognition it has had
the undivided support of this govern
ment. An embargo was placed upon
arms and ammunition going into
\ chihuahua, Sonora and Lower Cali.
fornia, in order to prevent their fall.
ing into the hands of the armed op-
porents of the de facto government
Permission has been granted from