New-York tribune., 1919-08-15
Neglect or Inability to
Make Lives Safe Be-
yond Border No Longer
To Be Tolerated, Edict
Cairanza Says He =
Is Doing e His Best
Sparse Population Made
Excuse; Suggests For.
eigners Flock to Towns

WASHINGTON, Aug. 1.-THE first
definite move toward the long expected
change in policy in dealing with Mex
leo was disclosed to-day. Carranza has
been warned that if the murders and
outrages Of Americans continued. the
United States may be forced to adopt
a radical change n its policy with re-
gard to Mexico
In making public the two notes the
State Department gave no authorta-
tive indication Of how far the Amer
lean government is preparing to go to
enforce what lacks only the diplomatic
technicalities Of an ultimatum.
In its reply the Mexican government
expressed surprise at the "menace"
contained in the American note, but de-
clared it could not afford absolute pro-
lection to foreigners living in the
sparsely settled districts The sugges-
ton was made that Americans in those
remote places come into populated CEN
tres where they can be protected
Declares Guards Were Refused
Referring to robberies of paymasters
Of oil companies, the Mexican govern
ment declared the oil companies had
declined guards for them, either on
the grounds that the presence Of
guards invited attacks by bandits or
that the guards misbehaved. Both as
sertions, the Mexican governments note
declared, are unfounGed. The Mexican
government, the note further said, has
offered to reimburse the robbed persons
for money lost.
The communication TO Mexico is
couchcd IN probably the strongest Lam
guage used in any form by this govern
ment since The exchanges preceding the
Vera Crez occupation. All official
Washington began at once looking be-
hind the official texts, seeking some
reason for an impending change of poll
ICY, for which there has been demand
in and out OF Congress. Pressure from
foreign governments and pressure IN
Congress, which is preparing an inves-
tigatlon of the whole Mexican situation,
We're among those most commonly dis
cussed. Outwardly there was no rea~
son apparent except the long and grow
ing list of outrages on Americana.
Committee Prepares Inquiry
While the State Department was
making public the notes the Senate
Foreign Relations Subcommittee,
headed by Senator Fall, of New
Mexico was holding a meeting at
which preliminary plans were made for
q full investigation OF the Mexican
situation. The subcommittee discussed
number of subjects connected with
the proposed investigation generally,
but reached no final decisions.
Senator Fall, after the meeting, said
the new turn IN events would have
no effect on the committees plans and
the committee would cooperate in every
possible way with the State Depart
ment if the department desired.
Latest War Department lists Of troop
assignments show approximately $4,000
regular troops are either on the border
or few hours travel from the border.
Besides quartermaster, aviation and
other auxiliary units, the lists show ten
regiments of infantry, seven OF cavalry
and three of artillery Major General
Joseph 7. Dckman, former commander
of the Fourth Army Corps of the Amer
lean Expeditionary Forces. recently as
sumed command of the Southern De-
partment, which has charge of opera
tons on the border.
Naval Forces Near Mexico
Naval forces in Mexican waters in
clude the monitor Cheyenne and the
cruiser Topeka, @otf the east coast, the
cruiser Cleveland at the Canal Zone and
the cruisers Chicago and Denver along
the Pacific Coast of Central America.
The new destroyers, the Crane, Lee and
Williams are in the Atlantic enroute to
loin Admiral Rodman's Pacific feet
The cruiser North Carolina recently
passed through the Panama Canal to
join the Pac fic armada.
The government prefaced it's official
statement of the notes with the ex-
planation that the diplomatic repre-
sentations referred TO had been taken
'in view of the long series of murders
and outrages of American citizens in
Mexico, eliminating in the murder OF
patar Cafrov - Co.