The Washington times., 1916-06-20

dents which have been established
and maintained by the government of
the Mexican Republic for the last
half century do not bear out this
II has grown to be almost A custoro
not TO settle depredations of bandits
by payments of money alone, but TO
quell SUCH disorders and to prevent
snch crimes by swift and sure pun
The de facto government finally ar
cues that IF the frontier were dub
protected from incursions from Meg;
ic9 there sySs would be no reason for tai
government attempts to absolye itseif
from the hrst duty OF any government.
namely; the protection OF life and
This is the paramount obligation
for which governments are instituted.
and governments neglecting or faIIing
to perform IL are not worthy OF the
name; nan Sx. rnis Is the , duty for which Gem
itiated his revolution in Mexico and
organized the present government a nd
for which the United States Govern
ment recognized his government as
the de facto government OF Mexico.
Protection Of Life in
Mexico an Obligation.
Protection Of American lives and prop
| erty. then, In the United States k first
| the obligation Of this Government. and
| IN Mexico II, first, the obligation Of
Mexico and second the obligation Of the
| United States.
In securing this protection along the
commond boundary the United States
mas a right to expect the cooperation
| of its neiyhborinE republic: and yet In
stead OF tskin~ steps to check or punish
| the raiders the de facto government do
murs and objects to measures taken
| by the United States. The Government
| OF the United States does not wish to
believe that the de facto government
| approves these marauding attacks vet
| as they continue to be made, they show
that the Mexican government is unable
| to repress then.
has had occasion in the past to say,
| may excuse the failure to check the
| outrages complained OF, but Il only
makes stronger the duty Of the United
States b. prevent them. for II the gov
| crnment of Mexico cannot protect the
lives and property OF Americans, ex-
| posed to attack from Mexicans. the
| Government OF TIC United States Ia in
duty bound. 30 far as 1t can, to do so.
Refuses Demand to
Withdraw Soldiers.
In conclusion. the Mexican governs
ment invites the United States to sup
port It's assurances of friendship with
real and effective acts" which "can he
no other than the Immediate with
drawal of the American troops"
For the reasons / have herein fully
set forth. this request of the de facto
| government cannot now be entertained.
| rhe United States has not sought the
duty which has been forced uppn II of
pursuing bandits who under fJndamen-
tai PRINCIPLES Of municipal and inter-
national law. ought to be pursued and
arrested and punished by Mexican au-
thorities.
Whenever Mexico will assume and ef-
fectively excrrise that responsibility.
the United States. as II has many times
before publicly declared. will be glad
to nave this obligation frlflled by the
de facto government of Mexico. II. on
the contrary. tfrN de facto government
Ia pleased to ignore this obligation and
@ retire these troops there Is no fur
ther recourse than to defend its ter
ritory by an appeal to arms" tho Gov,
ernment of the United States would
surely be lacking in sincerity and
friendship IL II did not frankly impress
upon the dc sacto government that tbs
execution Of this threat viii lead e
While this Government would deeply
regret such result. II cannot recet
from Its settled determination to main
tain its national rights and to perform
its fulLduty in preventing further inva
sions Of the territory of the United
States and in removing the peril which
Americans along the international boun,
dary have borne so long with patience
and forebearance.
> Accept. ETC..
ROBERT LANSING.