Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-05-16
His Meetings With Obregon
Lead to Creation of Bet
ter Understanding.
MIGHT FURNISH BASIS
EOR FORMAL PROTOCOL
Developments Tend to Confirm
Reports of Unwritten Agree
ment Being Reached.
BORDER SITUATION UNCHANGED
Washington Officials Not Very Clear
AS TO Political Conditions
In Mexico.

WASHINGTON. May 15.--Ma ior-Gen-
eral Scott. chief of staff of the army,
returned here to-day optimistic over
the military situation, and confident
that the meetings with General Obrc-
Bon had created d better Understanding
between the two governments, which
might furnish the basis for formal
protocol. The chief OF staT was In need
OF rest. and did not see Secretary Lam
sing, though he reported briefly to Sec
retary Baker.
Eliseo Arredondo, tho Mexican am
bassador-designate. asked for instruc-
tons as to his course last week but
General ObreEon probably will not
reach Mexico City for several days, and
the reply from General carranza is not
expected here until the Minister OF
Wars report has been received
War and State Department advices
showed no change to-day in the situa-
ton in Mexico, or along the border.
While press reports have told OF several
raids OF minor character at various
points in the last few hours General
Funston either has been unable to con-
firm these stories or thought them too
unlmportant to bring to the attention
OF the War Department.
Administration officials continue to
express confidence that the forces now
under General Funston's command will
be able TO protect the border In such
fashion that repctitions OF the Glenn
Springs raid Will be impossible. unless
there is general anti-American out
break beyond the border In which Car
| ranza troops participate. There is
nothing to indicate the likelihood of
| such nm event.
SCOTT WILL CONFER
WITH BAKER TO-DAY
General Funstons new plan for CO.
ordinating the work of the border
guards was regarded in some quarters
here as tending TO confirm intimations
that an unwritten agreement as to
steps to be taken was reached at the
Ell Paso conference. No official would
admit, however. that a plan OF action
had been agreed upon by the conferees
General Scott probably will confer Mt
length with Secretary Baker to-mor-
row. and later with Secretary Lansing
The War Department has had no adj
vices mentioning Villas name for many
days. Some officers are inclined to be-
lieve that he is either dead or has
slipped away into hiding to recuper-
ate from serious wounds. For the pres
ent, at least. he has ceased to be
factor in the border situation.
AS to the political situation in Mex
leo, officials do not seem to be very
clear. The Mexican civil populat tiou
! outside the larger towns is understood
to be absolutely ignorant OF what Is
going on In the world or even In Mex-
leo. Telegraph wires are down in
many sections. and branch railways
are operating only special trains. Few
newspapers. either Mexi. IN or Amer
ican. penetrate into the back country.
This condition is undoubtedly q factor
in the political problems OF the Car-
rama government.
RETURN OF AMBASSADORS
WITHOUT SIGNIFICANCE
Mr.. Arredondo issued 4 statement to-
night declaring that the recent return
OF Perez Romero to his post as Mex
lean ambassador to Tokyo, and the ap-
pointment OF Rafael Zubaran as diplo.
matte agent to Germany and her allies,
as we'll as to Denmark. had no sig
nificance and did not foreshadow any
effort to negotiate alliances with any
of these powers. The statement said
similar agents have been sent to Eng
land and her allies. and to South and
central American countries.
MIR. Arredondo said the Southern
Mexican states. little affected by the
revolutions of the last five years. were
ma king great strides in financial prog
ress. y 500. 900 (Mexican gold)
Mexican concern is being formed with
government support, to undertake the
upbuildinE of public utilities. particu-
larly railroads in these states. The
tions have been reduced IS per cent