The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-02-18


andw no would make such reply as he
deemed proper.
fractional Governments Contrasted.
1.-The inference to be drawn was
plain. On the one hand, there seem
ed to be no central organization
among the Vil1ista forces. while on
the other hand submission to a CEN
trail authority was evidenced in the
replies of the Carranzistas. The unity
and loyalty of the Carranzistas ap-
peared to indicate the ultimate tri-
umph of that faction. especially as the
Carranzista forces were then in con-
troll of Approximately rs per cent. Of
the territory of Mexico. Accordingly
the conferees, after careful and i'm
partial consideration of all the cir
cumstances, decided unanimously to
recommend severa11y to their respect
i've governme nts that in their opinion
the government Of which General
Carranza was the leader should be
recognized as the de facto government
of Mexico.
"a There is appended hereto a
copy of a letter from Mp Esisco Ar
redondo, the local representative RI
General Carranza in Washington,
dated Oct. z, 1918, transmitting sew
eraI documents setting forth the pro-
gram of the de facto government with
respect to the protection of the lives
and property of foreigners in Mexico,
the settlement of claims arising from
disturbed conditions, and other mat
ters appertaining to the restoration of
order.
"As to the ability of the de facto
government to fulfill its promises to
protect lives and property along the
border, the undersigned has the honor
to call your attention to the fact that
since assurances in this respect were
given to this government by the de
facto government the distur Dances
along the border have III large meas
of letter from the Secretary of War,
dated Feb. 10. 1916. and copies of
weekly reports for the weeks ending
jan I and Jan. Is. 1916, prepared
by the War Department, concerning
general conditions along the border,
are hereto appended. 1t will be seen
from these reports that conditions
along the border are practically nor
NAL. sfffsF
Reasonably Adequate Protection.
SIN respect to the evidence in the
possession of this government of the
ability Of the de facto government of
Mexico to fulfill its promises and obIi-
cations relative to protecting Ameri-
can lives and property in Mexico, the
departments information indicates
that the de facto government is now
Mexico and that. bearing in mind that
the nation is Just emerging from years
of domestic strife. it may be said that
within the territory which it controls
it is affodfng in all the circumstances
reasonably adequate protection to the
lives and property of American citi-
zens, and it is taking steps to extend
its authority over and to restore order
in sections now in the hands of the
hostile factions.
''In this connection, however, it
should be. stated that the 1awIess con-
ditions which have long continued
throughout a large part of the terri
tory of Mexico are. not easy to remedy,
and that the great number of bandits,
who have infested certain districts
and devastated property in such ter
ritory, cannot be suppressed inInecli-
ateIy, but that their suppression will
require some time for it's accomplish
ment, pending which it may beA ex-
pected that they win commit sporadic
outrages upon lives and property.
"5. With reference to the protec-
ton OF the lives and property of
American citizens on or near the
Mexican border, there is enclosed
herewith extract from letter on
the suk& ct from the Secretary of War,
dated Jan. 26, 1916.
SO. With regard to the settlement
of American claims against the Mexi-
can Republic for injuries tc &he lives
or property of American citizens, the
undersigned has the honor to direct
your attention to the copy of a letter
from Mr.. Arredondo. dated Oct, Z,
1915, and its Enclosure, heretofore re-
fepfed to and hereto appended.
''7. With reference to the assur-
ances given bw the Mexican govern
ment concerning thep rejection of
foreigners and citizens, particularly
respecting the free exercise of religion,
the undersigned, incloses a letter on
the subject from Mr.. Arrendond
dated Oct. 8, 1915.
Why Documents are Withheld.
SO. AS heretofore stated, it is not
considered compatible with the public
interest to transmit to the Senate, at
the present time, the correspondence
regarding political conditions in Mexi-
co. Much of this correspondence is
of a highly confidential nature SUBJ
nftted by the Consular officers of the
United States. by diplomatic or Con-
su1ar officers of other governments,
which have graciously consented that
their officers might supply this gov
eminent with information during the
necessary absence of American rep-
resentatives. and by other persons re-
siding in Mexico To reveal the con-
tents of the reports submitted by
the representatives of the United
States and by the representa- of
other governments. would be incom-
patible with the public interest, it
would tend to impair the usefulness
of these officials to their respective
governments; and to make public the
personal and the frequently confiden-
tial statements submitted from time
to time by civilians might seriously
Inbarrass them.
- cit may be added that the papers
requested by the Senate resolution
comprise thousands of documents, the
greater part of which set forth i'm
dividua1 opinions and suggestions
from different points of view, and