The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-01-04
MEXICAN TANGLE
IS Up To WILSON
TOINT COMMISSION
ENDS IN FAILURE
Report Made to Wilson "A
Radical Change In Policy
is Now Certain.

WASHINGTON. Jan. s. All the
threads of the tangled situation be-
tween the United States and Mexico
were held tonight by President Will
son. The American members. of the
MeXican-American joint commission
made 10 him late today a personal
have reached a deadlock, and whether
the conferences OF the commission
shall continue is a question the preSl-
dent has added 10 those already under
consideration, the determination or
which will shape the Administrations 3
future policy towards the defacto gov
ernment.
Although an authoritative admission
TO that effect was lacking. ii became
known that Secretary Lane, DIR. j. K.
Mott and Judge George Gray, the
American commissioners. considered
useless further attempts to effect a
settlement of the questions 1T issue
through the joint commission. They
submitted TO the president written
report of their failure 10 have ratified
BY Caranza the protocol providing for
withdrawal OF the American troops
from Mexico and for cooperative
control Of the border and asked him
TO decide whether they should con-
tinue their conferences on other sub
jects as suggested by Carranza.
The president and the three coH-
missioners discussed the report for
about an hour. Afterward Secretary
Lane referred inquiries 10 the preSl-
dent. The president said he did not
wish to discuss the question in any
of its phases.
At least one more conference with
the MeNicans will be held. Some day
this week Luis Cabrera, chairman of
The Mexican commission, and the
other two members, lgnacio Bonillas
and Alberto ]. Pani, are expected TO
meet the American commissioners
here and receive their reply to Car
ranza'S latest communication.
Radical Change in Policy.
1t seemed certain tonight that some
radical changes in policy would be
adopted soon by the United States.
The President continued his consider
alton of the withdrawal of General
Pershing's force, regardless OF Car
ranzas attitude, and Of the sending OF
Henry p. Fletcher TO Mexico City TO
represent the government as ambassa-
dor. 1t is known that neither OF these
steps would be regarded as lnconSlSt-
ent by the American commissioners.
IN anticipation lNdL olueLS "oulu ue
issued soon for the recall of the troops
the War Department has prepared a
tentative plan of withdrawal General
Scott, chief Of staff, and General Bliss,
assistant chief of staff, conferred at
length with Secretary Baker late to-
day, and it was said they discussed a
request by the President for report
on what effect. in the opinion Of mill
tary men, withdrawal Of the troops
would have.
If the Pershing expedition is taken
out of Mexico it will be with the un-
derstanding that the American govern
ment reserves the right to re-enter in
the pursuit Of bandits at any time it
becomes necessary, and that there
will be recognized no right of the Mex
lean government to impose restric-
tions. That was the effect Of the mes
sage that accompanied the protocol
when it was sent to Carranza from
Atlantic City. The conditions i'm
posed in the protocol are regarded by
Secretary Baker as being as mild as
any condition could be. Such terms
would be enforced by the United
States regardless Of agreement by
CarranZa.