Albuquerque morning journal., 1916-12-29
First Chief Uses Up 800
Words in Effort to Secure
Modification of Provision for
Withdrawal of Troops,
LANE AND CABRERA
DISCUSS IT AT LUNCH
Officials Decline to Give Out
Anything for Publications.
Belief Is That Negotiations
Are Not at an End,
Ia .onu,sn -IsII -1IoIssTr sTT5IIl lfTsFswTNn

Washington, Zee. -o'--''il' "i''
oupeal for modification nf the prolo-
col providing for the withdrawal oil
American troops from Mexico is maze
bv General Carranza, IN message
delivered to Secretary Lane today Dy
Luis Cabrera, chairman of the MeM-
can members of the Joint commission
The Mexican first chief replied to the
insistent American demand that the
protocol signed by his spokesmen at
Atlantic City be ratified, with an ooV-
word document in which he failed TO
accede to the demand, but retralned
from writing anything that could be
construed as a flat reputation.
The latest suggestion for changes
in the agreement now viii be consid-
cred by the three American repre-
sentatives, Secretary Lane, j. X, Mott
and Judge George Gray. Secretary
Lane advised his colleagues late today
of the character of the reply ana
asked them to meet him here as soon
as they conveniently could.
Early next week a joint session OF
the Mexican American commission
will be held, at which the Americans
will give the MeXicans their answer
and on its nature depends the future
course of the commissioners, VINO
were directed more than Iour months
ago to effect, if possible, the ADJUST
nent Of questions at issue between
the two countries
Neither Mr.. Cabrera nor Secretary
Lane would discuss the nature OF car
ranza's reply. Mr.. Cabrera left for
New York soon after its delivery, ana
Secretary Lane declined to reveal its
character until it had been submitted
10 his colleagues. The same reticence
was displayed at the Mexican em'
bassy.
It was learned that the Mexican
commissioners were confident that no
insuperable barrier had been raised
bv Carranza. it was asserted thal
the utmost care had been exercised
to keep out Of the reply any express
sions or sentiments that might make
the situation more complex or tha'
would in any way offend the repre-
sentatives of the American govern
ment. The chief insstence of Carrah-
"a has been that the American troops
should be withdrawn unconditionally'
which the American commissioners
would not consider. 1t was indicated
tonight that Carranza's inslstence on
------~ p-fnt as ---r<Aasssaassssd ~4AAs
and that the change in his attitude
had been wrought largely by the al
tered military situation in northern
Mexico.
There appeared reason to believe
that one of the conditions to when
Carranza now objects is that under
which he would be obliged to garri-
son the territory evacuated by the
Americans as they marched out. II
was pointed out that since the pro-
tocol was drafted the increased ac-
tivities of villa and the steady growth
of his army of bandits has made IT
difficult for Carranza to agree to use
any considerable part of his army in
the district now occupied by Pershing
when it might be necessary to use
the same force in meeting more active
moves of villa at other points.
Discussed at Lunch.
The situation was discussed by Mr.
Cabrera and Mr.. Lane, after the com
munication had been delivered. The
two men lunched together at Secre-
tary Lanes club. They talked over IN
wholly informal way the objections
Carranza had to the protocol as it was
drafted, and Mr.. Cabrera pointed ou'
that Mr.. Carranza recognized the ne
cessity of maintaining the good VII
of the United States.
Those who have been in touch witt
Carranza's representatives ASSERTED
that in his latest representation o
the case he expressed Willingness
TO ratify the agreement if a mor'
definite date for the troop WlthdraWd
were specified and if a more lenien
attitude were displayed towards IN
question of increased bandit activity
Carranza holds that his government
is doing all it humanity can to re
store order in the north, and that !
will continue to do so, but that IN
presence of the American troops o.
Mexican soil is making the task NOR
difficult by giving Villa and his lieu
tenants a pretext for urging the dis
affected to join him in his figh
against Carranza.
The failure of Carranza flatly to re
pudiate the protocol made it appea
today that the Americans would CIV
his communication due considerable
and that the next meeting of the Join
commission might be but the first {