The sun., 1919-06-01
ANGELES TO BACK
1857 CONSTITUTION
In Note Sent to Washington
Declares for Old
Basic Law.
VILLA MAY STEP ASIDE
State Department to Give
Careful Unofficial Reading
to Message.
Special Despatch 10 THr son.

SPECIAL Despatch 70 The SCN.
WASHINGTON. May 81. - While the
State Department cannot receive off,
cially communications from factions in
revolt against the Carranza Government
in Mexico. a statement from Gen. F1lipe
Angeles, who has taken the nominal
headship of the villa movement. will be
scanned closely and carefully by officials
in touch with Mexican AFFAIRS.
This communication. involving
statement Of the aims Of the Angele~
movement and the immediate plans In
the event OF Its success. IL supposed TO
be en- route from the Mexican border. adj
dressed to. the State Department.
Those who know what Angeles had
stood Cor and to which Villa had sub
scribed-feel that as far as assurances
70 nothing moro reasonable could be
expected by the United States. The
keynote OF the plan Is a return to real
adherence to the Mexican constitution
of 1857 which never has been legally
set aside and which fully meets interna-
tional obligations. Added to this Is a
specific assurance as to the protection
of lives and property OF all foreigners
and the assurance that industry and the
developing of Mexico's great natural
wealth would be encouraged
villa Far From an Asset.
All of this and moro win have TO be
given careful, II unofficial, considera-
ton by the State Department in antici-
patton OF the possible success OF the
Angeles Villa movement and the neces-
sity of this Government to decide again
what faction or de facto Government TO
recognize.
1t Is realized even by Pancho Villas
most ardent advocates that except for
his military prowess his connection with
the present movement or with any Gov
eminent resulting therefrom will operate
against tho recognition Of that move
ment by foreign Governments There is
admittedly room for doubt that all OF
the crimes charged against Villa really
doubt that Villa personally either par
ticipated in the Columbus raid or was
Indirectly responsible for it.
Much of the popular agitation against
villa is directly traceable to a desire In
certain quarters TO divert public opinion
from the crimes and. weaknesses OF the
Carranza Governpent. Nevertheless
this popular feeling in the United States
will have to be recognized. 1t Is believed
here. and the, sooner the Angeles move
ment is dissociated in the public mind
and support Furthermore Villa him
self Is not Of the type from which stable
and orderly governments spring. and II
he Is to play the role of dictator the
use of Angeles's name will not be suf-
ficient to inspire foreign confidence.
say villa VIII Step Aside.
These facts Villas supporters recos-
nize if,~Naryins degree. They claim that
Villa has been and now is prepared to
step aside except to such extent as his
military power can be of use to the
Angeles Government. Those conversant
with Mexican affairs and Latin Amer
lean psychology hope that before reach
L, ing a decision as to the probable value
of this claim State Department officials
will seek the advice OF the members of
the better class OF Mexicans who have
been consistently debarred from con-
sideration in all official negotiations
since the downfall of the Madero regime.
An interesting development to-day in
connection with the recent refusal OF the
State Department to permit the trans
port OF armed Carranza forces through
American territory for military opera
tons against Villa Is seen in authentic
reports on the killing on May 22 of an
American named White in the Yaqui
Indian country lit Sonora, This killing
was promptly laid to the Indians by the
Carranza Government
Investigation developed the fact. how
ever, that neither the clothes nor other
other property. Of the dead man had been
disturbed, by his murderers. and the
Yaqui Indian leaders have made a strong
case in favor of their contention that
the murder was committed by Indian
soldiers of Carranza for the purpose OF
creating a situation which would pre-
clude their use in the Chihuahua cam
paign against Villa.
This contention - supported by the
well established fact that a large per-
centage of the murders and other out
RACES recently committed against Amer
leans in Mexico have been traced di-
rectly to Carranza soldiers. as records
in the state Department show.
~