Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1916-10-27
War Secretary Says Conspiracy to Force In
terventiOn is Backed by Mexican Op-
pOnentS Of de FactO GOyernment--ShOuld
Carranza Fail to Act, United States May
Move Independently.
U. S. ARMY COMMANDERS ON BORDER
ARE WARNED TO BE ON THEIR GUARD

that plot exists to bring about arm
ed conflict between the United States
and Mexico.
Discussing his statement. Secretary
Baker said
THE obviously appropriate COM
ment Of the Secretary OF State should
prevent any possible misunderstand-
ing Of the purpose OF the statement"
Baker referred TO Lansing's state
ment that conspirators on the Ameri-
can side are Mexicans and not Ameri-
cans.
There Is not the slightest political
significance in the issuing OF the state
ment at this time Baker said.
lie admitted that some OF the most
important information on which the
statement was based reached the &c
nartmeut only half an hour before he
issued the statement yesterday after
noon.
Referring to the "onem es OF tho ad
lministration phrase in his statement
! Baker said
"The Mexican opponents OF the de
facto government OF Mexico would be
only too glad TO complicate the rela-
uons between the United states ard
Mexico. Our information Is that thcy
think this an appropriate time to do
So The statement made hy the depart
ment ought 70 discourage any such ad.
venture on their part in that difF
tion."
when pressed for more specific
statement Of the Identity of conspir-
ators on the American side OF the
border, Baker said
/ Everybody knows that "A large
number Of men who have Withdrawn
from Mexico TO this country are con-
stantly aggressive against the MeXi-
can government ANY sympathy for
the Mexican bandits from the Amer-
can side Of the line comes from these
sources"
Referring again to the political
phase OF the statement. Baker said
"The only possible suggestion of
political purpose is to prevent the
people Of Mexico from creating a dis
turhancc OF a political character in
furtherance of their own designs"
Administration officials said Bakers
statement was intended as a warning
TO the Mexican government and
guarantee Of the American govern
ment's good fifth. The administration
expects the Carran1a government 70
take final and effective measures for
the suppression OF Mexican banditry
The belief Of other administration
leaders. as well as Bakers own was
expressed in the startling statement
Of last night r. can be said that the
administration by making public its
knowledge Of a danger seriously
threatening the relations between this
government and the Carranza govern.
ment. expects Carranza TO fully realize
this governments unselfsh purpose
The administration. in consequences,
hopes for more active cooperation be
tween the military forces of the two
countries for common action against
the Mexican bandits.
There is reason to believe that
should the Carranza government ig
more the opportunity presented and
fail TO bring about a better condition
in Mexico the American government
VIII seriously consider independent
action toward that end
The financing Of the Villistas and
other bandits is being done by the
leaders in the east. through agents
along the border in MeNco. Attention
was first called to the nossibik:ty of
the plot by the paying Of the bandits
I'M silver. Considering the scarcity OF
metallic money in Mexico. even the
Continued on Page Two.)