The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-01-20
MEXICAN CONFERENCE ENDS.
JOINT COMMISSION FAILING TO
EFFECT ADJUSTMENT DIS
SOLVED.
CarranZa's Refusal to Sign Atlantic
City Protocol Renders Useless Fur
ther Meetings of Commission
Mexican Representatives Hopeful of
Carrying Their Point.

New York, jan. 15.-The Mexican
American joint commission, which
failed to effect an adjustment of the
questions at issue between Mexico
and the United States after a series
of conferences that began four
months ago, was formally dissolved
late today.
Secretary Lane and the other men,
bers of the American commission,
DIR. J. r. Motto and Judge George
Gray, told the Mexicans that they
had recommended to President Will
son the dispatch to Mexico of Am
bassador Fletcher and the withdrawal
of the American troops from Chi
huahua.
The Americans impressed upon the
Mexicans that with the dissolution Of
the commission the Mexican problem
reverted to President Wilson. They
were careful not to leave in the
minds of the Mexicans the conviction
that President Wilson would accept
the recommendation that an accred-
tied diplomat be sent to Mexico and
that Gen. Pershing's force be with
drawn but the intimation that he
would do so was conveyed.
In spite of the Americans care,
however, the MeXicans had little
doubt tonight that full diplomatic re-
lations between the two governments
would soon be re-established and that
unless unexpected complications
arise American troops will be remov-
few days.
Luis Cabrera, chairman of the
Mexican commission, and Ignacio
Bonillas and Alberto J. PAM, the
other members, SAID they expected to
leave within week or ten days for
Mexico. Mr.. Cabrera and Mr. Bonil-
las will resume their places as men,
bers of Gen. CarranZa's cabinet and
Mr.. PAM as director general of the
government railways Notwithstand-
ing the dissolution of the commission
they expressed themselves as pleased
with the result, pointing out that
with the withdrawal Of the Ameri-
can troops the main object Of Car
rama in sending them here would
be accomplished.
The last session OK the joint COM
mission continued throughout the
latter half of the day. The Ameri-
can commissioners explained to the
Mexican representatives that they re-
garded further discussion by them Of
International questions as impracti-
| cal. Twice Gen. Carranza had re-
fused to ratify the protocol signed al
Atlantic City, in which conditions fol-
the withdrawal Of troops had been
| made and that refusal the Americans
construed as indicative of what
| might be expected if the conferences
| were continued. They were told OF
the visit of the Americans to Presi-
dent Wilson and of the president
sanction of their recommendation
that the commission be dissolved
1t was pointed out to them that
the maintenance of an ambassador
in Mexico would remove cause FOR
the existence of a commission since
all international questions pending
or any that might arise might then
be handled through diplomatic chan
nels. 1t was explained to them that
with the dissolution Of the commits
sion the president would be free to
act Independently in the problem pre-
sented by the presence in Mexico Of
an American military force.
The MeXicans expressed regret that
the conference had been brought to
an end but they too admitted that
continued discussions appeared useless
and no effort to have them prolonged
was
No direct reference was made in
the final session to what the attitude
Of the United States would be in
the event the American troops are
withdrawn and new raids are made
across the border by MeXicans, but
neither was there any modification
made in the warning of Secretary
Lane which accompanied the prot
ocol to Mexico that this government
reserved the right to unlimited and
unrestricted pursuit of bandits.
1t was intimated to the MeXicans
when Gen. Pershine's troops are TAX
en- out of Mexico it would be when
it appeared evident that bandits were
not menacing the northern border Of