The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-06-20


Mexico in an effort to capture or des-
troy them. Without cooperation or
assistance in the field on the part of
the de facto government, despite re-
peated requests by the United States
and without apparent recognition on
it's part of the desirability of putting
an end to these systematic raids, or
of Furnishing the chief perpetrators
of the crimes committed because they
menaced the good relations of the
two countries, American forces pur-
sued the lawless bands as far as Par
raj, where the pursuit was halted by
the hostility of MeXicanS presumed to
be loyal to the de faacto government,
who arrayed themselves on the side
of outlawry and became, in effect, the
protectors of Villa and his band
Carranze Repudiates Agreement.
In this manner and for these rea-
sons have the American forces entered
Mexican territory. knowing fully the
circumstance set forth the de facto
government cannot be blind to the
necessity which compelled this
government to act, and yet it has seen
fit to recite groundless sentiments of
hostility toward the expedition and to
impute to this government Interior
motives for the continued presence of
American troops on Mexican soil. 1t
is charged that these troops crossed
the frontier without first obtaining the
consent or permission of the de facto
government. Obviously, as Immediate
action alone could avail, there was no
opportunity to reach an agreement
(other than that of March 1914, now
repudiated by General Carranza) prior
to the entrance of such an expedition
into Mexico if the expedition was to be
effective.
Subsequent events and correspon-
! i Il ,ctr Tod ia he fic-
faction of this government that Gen
era1 Carranza would not have entered
into any agreement providing for an
effective plan for the capture and
destruction of the Villa bands. While
the American troops were moving rap
idly southwark in pursuit of the raid
ers, it was the form and nature of
the agreement that occupied the at
tention of General Carranza rather
than the practical object which it was
to attain-the number of limitations
that could be imposed upon American
forces to impede their progress rather
than the obstacles that could be raised
! to prevent the escape of the outlaws.
1t was General Carranza who sus-
! pended through your note of April IL,
/ all discussions and negotiations for an
agreement along the lines of the pro-
| tocols between the United States and
/ Mexico, concluded during the period
| 1SS2-1S96, under which. the two coun :
I
peaceful conditions on their common
boundary.
! The Scott Obregon Conference.
! 1t may be mentioned here that, not
withstanding the statement in your
note that the American government
gave no answer to the note of the
/ 18th of April this note was replied
to on April IA, when the state depart
ment instructed Mr. Rodgers by tele-
graph to deliver this governments an
swer to General Carranza. Shortly
after this reply the conferences be-
tween Generals Scott, Funston and
Obregon began at Ell Paso, during
which they signed on May = a project
of a memorandum and referendum, re-
garding the withdrawal of American
troops. AS an indication of the al
legged bad faith of the American gov
| eminent you state that although Cen
j eral Scott declared in this memoran-
dunn that the destruction and disper-
sion of the Villa band had been ac-
complished,' yet American forces are
not Withdrawn from Mexico
1t is only necessary to read the
memorandum, which is in the English
/ language, to ascertain that this is
clearly a misstatement, for. the MEM
orandum states 'the American punt
tive expeditionary forces have destroy
ed or dispersed many of the lawless
elements and bandits or have driven
them far into the interior of the re-
public of Mexico and further that the
United States forces were then carry
ing on a vigorous pursuit of such
small numbers of bandits or lawless
elements as may have escaped"
The context of your note gives the
impression that the object of the ex-
petition being admittedly accom-
pliShed the United States had agreed
withdrawal of its troops. The memo
randum shows, however, that it was
not alone on account of partial dis
persion of the bandits that it was de-
cided to begin the withdrawal of
American forces. but equally on &C
count of the assurances of the Mexi-
can government that their forces were
lat the present time being augmented
and strengthened to such an extent
that they will be able to prevent any
disorders occurring in Mexico that
would in any way endanger American
territory" and that they would con
tinue to diligently pursue, capture or
destroy any lawless bands of bandits
that may still exist, or hereafter exist
in the northern part of Mexico and
that it would make a proper distri-
be necessary to prevent the possibility
of invasion of American territory from
Mexico
De Facto Shows Bad Faith.
1t was because of these assurances
and because of General Scotts conf
dence that they would be carried out
that he sta ted in the memorandum
! that the American forces would be
/ gradually withdrawn" 1t is to be
noted that, while the American gov
eminent was willing to ratify this
Z agreement General Carranza re-
fused to do so, as General Obregon
stated, because, among other things
( it imposed improper conditions upon
the Mexican government. Notwith-
standing the assurances in the memoir
forces of the de facto government
( have not carried on a vigorous pur-