The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-03-21

Washington, March 21-The initia- tive was taken yesterday at 8 confer
 ence between Frank L. Polk, acting
 Secretary of State. and E1iseo Are
 dondo, Ambassad or designate of the
 Carranza government, toward the forming of a protocol between the
 United States and the de facto Mexf-
 can authorities providing for co-oper- attve action with view to the capture
 of Villa. During the visit of Senor Arredondo to the State Department, late in the afternoon, verbal propos a1s were exchanged looking to the signing of such a protocol.
 This agreement will be based on the theory that Villa is the common ene- my of both governments. Efforts will be made to so frame it as to en- brace every possible phase of cooper at1ve action against Villa. The chief features suggested are:
 First-Cooperative military action between the United States and the de facto government against Villa and his band.
 Second Common use of the rail- ways of both countries for movement of supplies and military equipment
 Third-The right to move troops through towns wherever necessity in the chase of Villa.
 The suggestion of a protocol was presented by Senor Arredondo. It is the outgrowth of the recomm endatton of Major Gen. Gunston that the Unit ed States government endeavor to ob- tain the consent of the Carranza gov ernnent for the shipment of supplies over the Mexican Northwestern Rail- way from Ill Paso to the Casas Gran des district. This request was made of the Carranza government on Sat- urday, and is now under considera- T1d H.. vfsers. While Carranza is credited with a willingness to grant this re- quest, it is understood that, to make it satisfactory to certain elements in Mexico and avoid irritation, reciprocal privileges are asked of the United ment under similar circumstances might ship supplies through this country to it's military forces.
 Plotting for Intervention.
 when the de facto government proposals were submitted to Acting Secretary Polk the latter is understood to have made counter proposals with a view to facilitating the formulation of a protocol. It is believed that such 1 an arrangement would go g. long way J toward removing danger from the sit uation. Information in the possession | of the United States government is 1 that efforts are being made to involve 1 this government in trouble with the l de facto government by throwing ob- i stacles in thep ath of cooperation, in | the hope that intervention will be forced.
 It has been pointed out by Ameri- I can officials to representatives of the | de facto government that, if permts- sion is granted for the shipment of | supplies over Mexican railways for use by the Pershing expedition, the work of the expedition probably can be accelerated, but that if the Car ranza government does not grant such permission the United States, which | does not intend to abandon it's efforts to capture Villa. will be forced to send into Mexico for United States troops by the formation of automob trains, This would delay the progress of the expedition, and to that extent postpone the withdrawal of the puni- tive forces.
 It was argued today that protocol such as proposed would be calculated to remove friction If such a protocol can be negotiated orders based upon it will be issued to the military com manders of both countries, who thus