The Washington herald., 1916-12-28
.CARRANzA BALKS ON
ATLANTIC CITY Plan
Questions Fairness and Equity Of Joint
Commission Terms.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE.

are conducted entirely through minor Of
fcials of the United States. A complete
break would make but little change In
the relative positions OF the two coun-
/ tries. 1t would, however, deprive the
Carranza government of an important
moral support. which has been Of ma
terial aid in building up the hrst chiers
administration. E...
Washington officials were inclined to
point to the continued and Increasing
| reports Of disturbances in Northern Mex
leo as a reason for declining to conduct
further wearisome negotiations with the
First Chief. f..
They pointed out that Carranxa rep
resentatives here have failed to explain
the continued successes of Villa and
other rebels in Northern Mexico. and
that the Carranza government has sought
to show that the United States attitude
toward the border situation has been
responsible for the continued outlawry.
State Department officials have been
outspoken in their declarations that Car
rama has had ample opportunity to dem
onstrate his ability to stabilize conditions
in Northern Mexico. and has failed to
do SO.
Fear No Border Trouble.
While diplomatic ofhcials watched the
situation closely. there was no fear Of
sire to Be patient with Carranza. both
the State and the War Departments have
taken ample precautions to protect the
| territory Of the United States. War De-
partment oficials declared last night that
whatever might develop in the diplomatic
situation. there was no fear that Ameri-
can citizens on American soil would be
subjected to the dangers Of fncursfons.
by either de facta or bandit troops from
fforx aT1f n NO
the border have been frightened up to
point where the War Department be-
/ lives they are "raid-prOof."
There was considerable sentiment among
officials who have opposed continued pro-
tracted negotiations with Carranza, in
favor of action by this government which
would improve the status Of the several
bandit chiefs who are operating in North
ern Mexico
They believe that some form Of reoog-
milton Of these revolutionists as belhg-
erents would prove a salutary lesson to
the Carranza government, even II 1t is
strong enough to maintain its present po-
| sition. There was growing feeling
here, however, that the Carranza regime
In Mexico is fast drawing to a close.
and that its ultimate dissolution is but
question OF time.
Collapse Would BE Serious.
Tho collapse Of the Carranza govern
| ment under present conditions would
leave the Mexican situation in a state
more confused than at any time during
the past ten years of disturbance, ano
would present an embarrassing problem
| to this government 1t would leave
Mexico without a single leader capable
Of even an attempt at organizing a
| government.
| With Pencho villa an outlaw in the
eyes of this government. the administra-
| ton would be sorely tried to find any
Mexican leader, to whom It could give
even informal or tacit support With
Carranza out Of the way. the field would
| be occupied by q dozen claimants for
leadership. and the United States would
be at a loss to decide on which one II
would support.
This possibility led many well-informed
of3oials last night to believe that the
administration would give the first chief
every opportunity to maintain his gov
| ernment-
| Chairman Lane, Of the American sec
ton of the joint commission. was notified
late last night that Lain Cabrera, the
head Of the Mexican section would reach
Washington tomorrow.
/ 1t Is expected that Cabrera will COM
municate to the commission CarranZa' s
latest objections to the American protocol
which will be transmitted to the State
Department separately through the Mexl-
can Embassy here.