The Leader, enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1915-1921, 1916-11-22
.U[T|MATUM TO Be
/. HANDED MEX|CANS

Atlantic City, N. J., Nov. 20
Luis Cabrera and his colleagues
on the Mexican-American Joint
commission will be formally told
tomorrow by Secretary Of the In
terror Lane, chairman of the
American commission, on Just
what terms an agreement provid-
ing for withdrawal of the Ameri-
can punitive expedition and the
protection of life and property
along the international border
may be reached.
Fortified by the assurance of
President Wilson that he will
back the American representa-
tives in their efforts to reach a
settlement, Secretary Lane re-
turned here late today. He inA
demiately went into conference
with DIR. ]. f. Mott and Judge
George Gray, the other American
commissioners, informing them
IN detail of the conference he had
at Washington Saturday with the
President.
The atmosphere of uncertainty
and even hopclessness, which has
been apparent for many weeks,
was entirely lacking tonight. The
Americans appeared confident
that the end of the conference is
IN sight. Their propositions
have been reduced to writing and
it IS understood will admit of lit
tie debate.
The Mexicans appeared not to
take pessimistic view of the
situation, Mr.. Cabrera again as
surlng newspaper men that he
was very hopeful of an amicable
adjustment. There was no evil
dence, however, that he was pre-
pared to rccede from his position
SO long maintained that agree
ment to the plan of the Americans
was out of question.
Whether Ignacio Bonillas and
Alberto ]. PAM, the other mem
bers of the Mexican commission,
were prepared to stand by Mr..
Cabrera could not be determined.
They have been disposed of late
to agree with the Americans.
here was some reason to be-
llevc that Mr. Cabrera had won
them over to an agreement to
stand with him.
!: The plan to be placed before
the Mexicans will contain nothing
that is new to them. 1t has been
gone over in sessions of the Joint
commission time and again and
will not require long explana-
ton.
The question at issue is not the
withdrawal of Gen. Pershing's
troops. They will be called back
when the American government
is convinced that it can be done
without jeopardizing the safety
of the border. The more debat-
able question is the method of
controlling the border after they
have been taken out. The Mex
leans will not be permitted to
place restrictions on the manner
IN which the American govern
ment may protect its border nor
on the manner in which it may
punish marauding bandits.
The Mexicans have objected
seriously to acknowledging the
right of the United States to send
troops across the international
boundary line in pursuit of ban
dts, but have been more insistent
that in case troops are sent they
be moved subject to certain re-
strlctions. When the Mexican
commissioners leave here it will
be with the realization that Amer
lean forces will be used to run
down any raiding band that cross
es the border into the United
States, regardless of where they
may have to go or how long they
may have to stay in Mexico.
1t was regarded here tonight as
not improbable that delay might
be caused by the desire of the
Mexicans to communicate further
with Gen. Carranza. Mr.. Cabre-
ra said he and his colleagues
would report new developments.
If time is taken for the Mexicans
to report the new situation to
their chief, and for him to reply,
1t is possible nothing may be done
until Saturday.