Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-01-03
First Chief Flatly Refuses
to Sign Withdrawal
Agreement.
TROOPS TO WITHDRAW?
u. S. Soldiers in Bad
Strategic Position; Sit
uation Serious.

WASHINGTON. Jan. . when the
American members of the Mexican.
American Joint commission had fin.
lshed consideration today Of General
tarranza's reply falling to comply
with their demand that the protocol
providing for withdrawal OF the Amer
lean troops from Mexico be ratified,
there were indications that efforts to
enter into an agreement with the dc
facto government thru the commission
would be abandoned. For the first
time an official admission was made
thht tarrnnzn had refused to sign tho
protocol. The commissioners said they
expected to draft their response to
Carran2a tomorrow.
Fletcher To Mexico.
The failure of the commission to give
to Mexican American relations
brighter aspect was offset somewhat
by official intimatiOns that Henry H.
Fletcher, confirmed as minister 20
Mexico almost "A year ago. was about
to start for his post where American
interests now are represented by
clerk. The report that General
Icrshlng's expedition soon would be
withdrawn regardless of CarranZa's at.
utudo also gained fresh impetus and II
was understood the administration had
this move under very serious con.
sidcration.
Mr.. Fletcher conferred with Presi-
dent Wilson after today's cabinet
meeting and later referred inquiries
as to whether he would 40 to Mexico
to President Wilson and Secretary
Lansing. No statement was forthcom-
ing from the White House or the state
department.
No Plans Yet
Secretary Baker said no plans fer
immediate Withdrawal Of the troopy
mad been considered. II is known,
however thut army officers are press
ing strongly for their recall. contend
ing that in their present position they
cannot do effective work toward pro.
tecting the border: that they are In
a bad strategic position and should be
brought out and distributed along tho
border with plans perfected for send
ing force across the line at some
more desirable point II the occasion
should arise In the future.
Eliseo ArredoEdo, Mexican ambas-
sudOr- designate. announced durins the
day that he had been summoned to
Mexico to confer with General Car
rama regarding the relations of the
two nations. This was constructed in
nation by Carranza to withdraw his
diplomatic representative.
Coming Back.
Mr.. ArredOndO stated, however that
he expected to return within a few
weeks 10 resume mis- duties and the
fact that the United States was con-
templating sending its ambassador -
Mexico city lent weight to the theory
that II Mr.. Arredondo was not con-
tluucd In his position here. another
envoy would be sent by Carranza Mr..
Arredondo's family remain in Wash
ington Ramon =. Denegri former
consul general of the CarranZa gov.
crnmcnt i'm san Francisco will act as
charge of the Mexican embassy
temporarily.
Protocol Made Public.
The text OF the protocol signed at
Atlantic city was made public by tho
American commissioners tonight for
the first time. II substantially was
what had been unofficially given out
II also was announced for the first
time that at the time the protocol
was sent to Mexico 1t was accompa-
MED by a brief statement agreed upon
by the joint commission as follows;
at shall be understood that IL wo
meet for the discussion Of other ques-
/ llOIS lilt american commissioners
Will not ask that any final agreement
shall he reached as to any such ques-
tions while the American troops are
| in Mexico"
Reply Kept Secret.
| CarranZas reply was not made pub
! lie. lie is understood to have taken
the position that he could not sign
the protocol because 1t would put him
| in the position of sanCtioning the
presence of American troops on Mex
/ lean soil.
Three resolutions directing the sec
retary OF war the attorney general
and the secretary of the treasury to
transmit to the house information re-
lating to the shipment of arms and
war munitions into Mexico In alleged
/ violation of law We're introduced to-
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