New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-08-20
Baker Called On to Ex-
nIain How Withdrawal
Message Became Public.
ALL RESPONSIBILITY
PUT ON PRESIDENT
He Must Shoulder Blame
if the Troops in Mex
leo Suffer.
hmm The rrisuns Burcau)

,rr,r- The Trihune Burcau)
Washington, Aug. 19.-For the nrst
1--WE since he interviewed TO prevent a
.,,ional railway strike, President VIII
:, took IN the Mexican situation TO-
- Following the publication in The
T-;bpne this morning-despite every
-So-t 20 keep it secret-of General
ra,s+on's recommendation for the
-.;,hdrswsl of the Pershing expedition
s,or, Mexico. Administration plans for
settlement Of border difficulties
Enough a joint commission were
,brown into confusion.
Secretary Baker was called TO the
wbi,s House by the President and
,.ted 70 investigate. it is understood
~ speb q confidential report to the
We, Department could become public.
S..retarv Baker refused 10 make any
..-rent on the Funston telegram, but
~ would not deny that it had been re-
eeiyed.
Informal inquiries had been sent
~ the State Department TO General
ru,ston's headquarters regarding the
Military situation in Mexico. In view
II the appointment OF the commission
,be department wished 70 know the
,.,+us Of the American troops there
so- the guidance Of the commissioners
vbsn thew came to determine the ques-
,ion of remaining across the border.
But officials did not expect any such
nositive report as was sent by the
American commander.
Will Hasten Appointments.
The fastening Of the appointment
Of the American members of the JOINT
commission, 1t was believed tonight,
Will follow the disclosure OF General
Tnnston's views. To delay longer, Of
6e;sls admitted, would only be to
strengthen Carranza's hand in the ne
cotiations. With the admission that
here was no longer any military ne
eessity for keeping the troops IN Mex
ico as President Wilson has always
eontended. the First Chief has already
won the principal point he has before
the commission.
In view of the necessity for haste
there is a growing belief that the
President may name Secretary Baker
for the place on the commission de-
elined BY Justice Brandeis. Secretary
Lane has already been designated, but
the President is having difficulty IN
filling the remaining positions. Al
though Secretary Baker suffers the
disadvantage Of being in the War De-
partment and thus directly responsible
FOR the troops in Mexico, still the
President is understood TO hope that
any prejudice in this respect by the
Mexicans would be more than over
come by Secretary Bakers known views
and radicalism.
The great embarrassment resulting
from General Funston's telegram, as
It is viewed here, is that it put the re-
sponsibility for anything that may hap
pen 10 the eXpeditionsry force squarely
on the President Not merely has the
American general proved Carranza' S
contention true that there is no longer
any necessity Of keeping troops In Mex
leo, but he has made the President also
responsible for the health and we'll
being Of Pershing's troops.
Can Blame the President.
Every man who becomes i'll can say
il is pointed out, that he has been sac
rifced not for the military security
Of the border, but to serve the political
purposes Of an Administration seeking
10 cover the mistakes of its policy.
Army men say Generalization of an
expeditionary force, as limited in Cen
eral Funston's telegram, is extremely
likely when troops are inactive and
held in camp. Although the War De-
psrtment has been lavish in publicity
With respect to the militia conditions
on the border, u is regarded as slgniii-
cant that practically nothing has been
said Of the regulars in Mexico.
in conditions such as those prevail
ING on Pershing's line, officers admit
that it is extremely difficult TO pre-
serve strict discipline, to make men
take proper caro- of themselves and TO
prevent a general breakdown in the
morale of troops. All efforts to get
information at the War Department
to-day regarding conditions across the
border were fruitless.
Critics Of the Wilson policy in Mex
leo seized on the Funston report to-
day as fresh proof of the mishandling
Of the whole situation. 1t confirmed a
suspicion that has been taking increas-
ING form during the last few weeks
that there was no longer any real ne
oessity for maintaining the militia on
the border. Pershing's force. were 1t
withdrawn, could again take up the
border patrol in conjunction with Car
ranza troops, who lately have been
giving increased cooperation.
In spite of the Funston report, the
War Department, it was learned to-day,
Is going ahead with it's plans to send
NE rest Of the militia TO the border.
AS soon as the strike situation has
cleared the men will be sent forward
10 JOIN the patrol along the Rio Grande.
Mexico ReiOices at News