Arizona republican., 1919-06-21
ERWIN DECLINES
 TO COMMUNICATE WITH VILLA MAN
Letter from General Ange- les Meets No Response Asked Why American Troops Went Across Y Erwin's Reply Is Curt
Republican A. p. Leased wirel

lHepupilCdn A. r. LedSeo WiFS1
 FL PASO, Texas, June 20.-'I de cline to have any communication whatsoever with you or your prinei- pal" Brigadier General B. Erwin re- piled today to a communication re- ceived from General Felipe Angeles commanding revolutionary forces in Mexico, regarding the reason Ameri can troops crossed the border last Sunday night.
 A courier from General Angeles camp near Samalayuca. 30 miles south of the border, who arrived here last night today delivered the communica- tion to General Erwin. It was signed by General Angeles and bore the seal of Villas revolutionary government.
 The reply was transmitted to Gen eral Angeles by the same courier, who left immediately for the revolutionary headquarters.
 There is but one government in Mexico recognized by the United States of America, and it appears that you or your principal are in no way connected with. or claim to be con nected with, that government. which is recognized by the United States of America" General Erwin's reply read.
 q therefore decline to have any com munication whatsoever with you or your principal on any subject related in any way to those governmental The contents of General Angeles communication was telegraphed 10 Major General De Rosey C Babell 1 commander of the southern depart ment, at San Antonio, by General Er- win, commander of the border district here, and was relayed to Washington from there.
 Villa is Meant 1 General Erwin's reference to General l Angeles principal" is assumed here to refer to Francisco Villa.
 | General Angeles based his request on the ground of the proverbial spirit of military comradeship." He admitted 1 the revolutionary forces lacked the international standing" entitling them to carry on an interchange of com munications with a government
 The communication to General Err win recites that General Angeles has
 been empowered ''by the revolutionary
 troops of Chihuahua and others who. 1 operate in connection with them,
 -. to arrive at an under
 standing through channels worthy of
 confidence, regarding the motives
 which guided the troops" General Err
 win ordered to cross the border and
 their attack upon some of those who
 have made me their representative" It summarizes facts incident to the
 revolutionists' attack on Juarez which
 already have been published and re-
 iterates that it was not the revolution
 ists' desire to 'cause injury by firing
 into the neighboring city of Fl Paso. ' !, This. it declares, is shown by the facts cited.
  known that on the night of the fif- teenth that American troops had
 crossed the border, the revolutionary
 forces received orders to depart from
 Ciudad Juarez and return to their en- campments, notwithstanding the very , great progress which had been made ,, in the conquest of the city and finally when they saw American troops at
 tack the revolutionary forces on the
 morning of the sixteenth, the latter re-
 ceived orders to retire . Angeles Speaks of Sympathy Tt is not pertinent to recite here 5 my known sympathies and admiration : for your excellency's country, which ] (word unintelligible)-the influence . whcih I have with the revolutionar, l troops and which could also confirm i the spirit of friendship of which I an | | ! that, together with the generositx . which prevails among the military oi f all countries, it will result that youl s excellency will give the answer a solicit
 = I know, indeed, that the revolution. e ary forces do not yet possess the in. g ternational standing which is requiret d to obtain official information, and
 have recourse to the proverbial mill
 tary spirit of comradeship to obtain
 such information. For the revolution o a1 AoiSeo need, m orQe to guide their conduct, to knov whether the attack on the part of tn F American troops was an act of hostiI = ity against the Mexican people O T merely against the revolutionary mart = an act perhaps in conjunction with tn $ Carranza forces.
 Tt gives me plesure, gentraI. to talk advantage of this occasion to presen the assurances of my highest consid o eration."
 IT The communication is dated at Sa malayuca, about 15 miles south a
 Juarez, June IS.
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