The Washington times., 1917-01-03
American Members of Mexican
Peace Board Recommend
Closing Its Sessions.
EXPECT TROOP WITHDRAWAL
Failure of Agreement Brings
Mexico Situation to Acute
Stage Again.

- Mexican peace commission will -pre-
sent to President Wilson late this
afternoon their recommendation for
closing up the commissions session.
Before going to see the President
they will draft an answer to General
Carranza's rejection of the troop
withdrawal protocol.
Their message and visit to Presi-
dent Wilson means that the joint
sessions are automatically closed.
In substance, the commissioners
will inform Wilson they have done
their utmost to frame a satisfactory
troop withdrawal protocol, that their
Carranza's rejection of the terms, and
that il is their opinion that it would
be useless to continue the joint SEES
sion further.
May Leave No Loop Hole.
At -the same time ii is doubtful.
as indicated officially this afternoon,
that they will leave a loop hole for a
resumption of the session following
the proposed voluntary withdrawal
of General Pershing's column. Such
a loop hole has been considered but
the commissioners felt after their
morning session that any resumption
10 consider questions of protection of
American lives and property would
be of doubtful value.
The note to Carranza will answer
his objections to signing the troop
Withdrawal protocol. There proba-
bly, will not even be frmal farewell
session of the joint body. and the
America commissioners plan to send
their answer to Carranza through a
special messenger who is Chairman
Luis Cabrera.
Expect Withdrawal Soon.
The American commissioners action
will leave the government free to
withdraw its troops as soon as it sees
fit. Military men SAID today this I'M
doubtedIy would be very soon.
The longer General Pershing's
forces remain in Mexico, the greater
viii Villas pewer be, according to
these men, inasmuch as Villa is get
ting recruits for his cause by telling
them that Carranza is unable to get
the Americans out of Mexico and that
he (Villa) will do so. Removal of the
troops, it is held, would rob him of
good recruiting argument.
No Tangible Results.
As far as any tangible results can |
be found from the action of the PresI-
dent in sending Pershing into Mexico
there are none that officials were
able to point to today except the hole |
in the Treasury and the death roll of |
more than a score of American sol |
diers killed by Mexican bandits. Incl |
dentaIly-and in this fact alone are |
army officers able to take any COM |
fort-the venture thoroughly demon |
stated ineff1cfency OF all army Iegis- |
lation of the last session involving |
the Administrators scheme of FEEDER
alizing9 the national guard.
situation More Serious Than Ever.
As far as Mexico is concerned the
situation has appeared to grow stead
fly more hopeless. The Carranza gov
eminent is less stable than ever. Its
army" is without equipment. and its
financial credit is done. Its ability to
involve the United States and the
Monroe doctrine in serious complica-
lions after the war in Europe is over,
IL more apparent than ever.
What President Wilson has in mind
IOT lne future none OF MS advisers pre-
tend to say. From its very outset the
Administrations Mexican policy has do
veloped and shifted as circumstances
have altered.
-Four Arms EmbargOeH.
Four times the Washington Govern
ment has imposed and lifted its en-
barge on the shipment OF arms across
the border. Ultimatums and near-ul-
timatuns have been sent from time to
time, but without any definite results.
There have been many notes sent alb
juring the Carranza government to be-
have, and many s0ucy replies received.
Secretary Lansing a year ago told
Carranza that the conditions i'm Mexico |
as affecting American rights were in
tolerable. yet the conditions are much
the same. The Joint commission has
sat for months in an effort to arrange |
a basis upon which conditions might be
improved. yet all that il has to show is
the refusal of Carranza to sign an I
agreement whereby the President can s
gracefully retire from the Pershing '
mess.
Carranza has demanded the with }
drawal. yet he refuses TO sign the I
protocol on the ground that to do so l
would be to admit that the expedition
had any right in the first instance to
enter Mexico. On that score, he, at
east, has been consistent.