South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-04-13
CHARGES HIS NOT
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place in the best OF faith and in the
belief that il would not be neces-
sary 20 enter into more particulars
was considered definite and ended.
These declarations, made by the
Hon. Mr.. Polk were confirmed in
all their parts at a conference on
March % between our confidential
agent and your excellence. who
stated also that he was sorry at hav-
ing interpreted wrongly the contents
OF the said note in respect 10 the
passage Of troops. and that they
would not advance more to the south
OF the place where they then were.
Letter Ratifies Conference.
ION the 18th OF March the Hon.
Mr.. Polk addressed a letter TO our
confidential agent in Washington
ratifying in writing the conference
held on the previous day and ex-
pressing in a clear and conclusive
manner that IL was a motive for
sincere lamentation that there had
been a misinterpretation as to the
attitude OF the first chief relating to
the passage OF United States troops
over the frontier in the pursuit Of
Villa, and declaring that the state
department OF the United States be-
lieved that our government had con-
sented plainly to the Arrangement
proposed in its communication Of
March 10 from the then secretary
OF foreign affairs. Licenciado Jesus
Acuna, which arrangement was &C
copied by the United States govern
ment in its note OF March ID
Cites Wilson's Declaration.
in declarations which his excel
lency. the Hon. Pres't Wilson made
public on March 26, he expressed
himself in the following manner:
AS we have already announced,
the expedition was ordered under
an agreement with the de facto gov
eminent Of Mexico for the purpose
Of only capturing the bandit Villa,
whose forces have invaded the
United States, and on no pretext
whatever would we order an inva-
sion OF that republic or a violation
Of its sovereignty
THAT idea, expressed by his ex-
cellency, Pres't Wilson, was rectified
on March 81 by a message sent to
our confidential agent in Washing
ton, in which he was instructed TO
call your attention to the idea in
dicated. since the note of March 10
referred to the reciprocal passage Of
troops only in case that incidents
like those which occurred at Colum-
bus should be repeated.
Lastly, on the fifth Of the pres
ent month, your excellency in deliv-
ering to our confidential agent a
counter project Of an agreement on
the reciprocal passage Of troops TO
be presented for the consideration
Of the Mexican government. accom-
panied IL with a note declaring that
the American government requested
that the conditions contained in the
said agreement should not apply to
American forces, which actually
found themselves within Mexican
territory at that time in pursuit of
Villa.
HFO0lSe0 10 tOelue.
"Your excellency further assured
us that in exercising that privilege
of entering our territory, those
forces would confine their military
operations only TO the object of the
expedition and that they would re-
tire Immediately afterward 20 their
own country.
Your excellency also expressed
your gratefulness TO the Mexican
government for having, as you
stated, reached a compact by means
of which the United States forces
had permission 10 pursue Villa and
his party in Mexican territory and
stated that the American govern
ment found itself disposed to respect
the confidence shown it and that it
would by no means. violate Mex
icO's sovereignty or abuse the privl-
lege so generously and freely grant
ed 1t.
And Furthermore. the honorable
secretary of the state department,
Mr.. Polk. in conference with our
confidential agent in Washington,
declared that the United States gov
eminent had acted in all good faith
in sending its expedition into Mex
leo in pursuit Of Villa in supposition
that the note Of March 10th contain-
ed a definite agreement; but that
the American government consented
10 let the expedition remain in Mex
lean territory only until details of
an agreement could be arranged.
No Final Agreement.
I'm consequence of the facts pre-
vioUe'y expressed, as no final agree
mcnt has been reached as 10 the
terms OF a treaty to regulate in gen.
eral the reciprocal passage of troops
over the dividing line for the pur-
pose Of pursuing outlaws who may
henceforth commit deprCdations in
one or The other country, the Next
can government judges it convenient
10 suspend for the present all dis
cussion or negotiations in this par
ticular. or founded on the circum-
stance that the expedition sent by
the United States government to
pursue villa is without foundation
in virtue OF the non-existence Of a
previous agreement, formal and
definite.
And as that expedition has full
6lIad i've ohfact insofar az II Will be