Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-03-26
He WARNS AGAINST
SINISTER FORCES
AT WORK IN NATION
Alarming Reports Spread in
Interest of American Own
ers Of Mexican Property.
EXPEDITION FOR SINGLE
PURPOSE OF TAKING VILLA
In No Sense Intended as Invasion
or as Infringement of Re-
public's Sovereignty.
HE CALLS on PRESS TO HELP
Drastic Steps May BE Taken II
Warning Is Not
Needed.
EXPEDITION FOR SINGLE
PURPOSE OF TAKING VILLA
HE CALLS on PRESS TO HELP
Drastic Steps May BE Taken II
Warning Is Not
Needed.


Wilson tonight issued warning that
sinister and INSCRIPTIONS Influences
ARE spreading alarming reports about
the Mexican situation, with the object
OF forcing intervention by the United
States in the interest Of certain Amerl-
can owners OF Mexican properties"
In a formal statement, the President
told the people OF the United States
10 he on their guard, and not to credit
such stories. He urged those who dis
seminate news to test the source and
authenticity OF every report from the
border, and called attention again to
the governments announcement that
the sole object OF the punitive cxpedi-
tion now In Mexico was to punish villa
and his followers.
The warning was issued after care
ful consideration oc many official re-
ports from throughout tho United
States and Mexico, and the President
conferred at length with Secretary
Lansing before he issued his warning
tonight
DRASTIC STEPS MAY nE
TAKEN If WARNING NOT HEEDED
Drastic steps may be taken IL tho
warning Is not headed. Various sug-
gestions have been advanced for legal
procedure to remedy the situation. ono
measure suggested being Invocation of
the law against circulation OF reports
calculated to incite to arson and riot
The President's statement follows:
"As has already been announced. the
expedition into Mexico was ordered
under an agreement with tho de facto
government of Mexico for the single
purpose OF taking the bandit Villa.
~ fnrrpS h.lJ mi
territory OF the United States, and is
in no sense intended as an invasion Of
that republic or as an infringement
OF its sovereignty I have. therefore,
asked the several news services to he
good enough to assist the administra-
ton in keeping this view OF the cx-
peditton constantly before both the
people OF this country and The dis
tressed and sensitive people OF Mexico,
who are very susceptible indeed to i'm
pressions received from the American
press not only, but also very ready to
believe that those Impressions proceed
from the views and objects of our
government Itself Such conclusions,
1t must be said, arc not unnatural. be-
cause the main, IL not the only course,
or information for the people on both
sides of the border is the public press
of the United States.
CALLS on NEWS AGENCIES
TO USE UTMOST CARE
I'm order 10 avoid the creation OF
erroneous aud dangerous impressions
in this way, I have called upon the
several news agencies TO use tho utmost
care not TO give news stories regard.
ing this expedition tho color OF war.
L" withhold stories OF troop movements
and military preparations which might
be given ;hat Interpretation and to
refrain from publishing unvcrified ru-
ihors or unrest in Mexico. i feel that
III is most desirable TO impress upon
both our own people and the people
OF MEXICO The fact that the expedition
- simply a necessary punitive meas.
urc, aimed solely at the elimination Of
the marauders who raided Columbus
and who infeSt an unprotected district
near the border. which thcy use as a
hase In making attacks upon the lives
and property of our citizens within orr
own territory. it is the purpose OF
our commanders 10 cooperate In every
possible way with the force OF Gen
eral carranza in removing this cause
OF irritation 10 both governments. ana
to retire from Mexican TERRITORY us
soon rs that object is accomplished.
OBJECT OF TRAFFIC.
IN FALSEJtoOD ORNIOIS
1T is my duty TO warn the people
OF the United states that there are
persons all along the border who are
actively engaged in originating and
giving as wide currency as they can ~
rumorS OF the most sensational and dis
turbing sort which are Wholly Uu-
JUSTIFIED by the facts. The object OF
this traffic in falsehood is obvious, IL
Is to create intolcrablc friction between
the government OF the Unijcd States
and the dc facto government OF Mexico,
for the purpose OF bringing about IN.
tcrvcntion in the interests OF certain
American owners OF Mexican proper.
ties. This object cannot be attained so
long as sane and honorable men arc
IN control OF this government. but
Very serious conditions may be created.
unnecessary hloodshcd may result aud
the relations between the two republics
may be very much embarrassed The
people Of the United states should
know tho sinister and uuscrupu!ous
Influences that arc afoot. and should.