Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-12-26
WAR MOVES BY
MEXICO SHOWN
IN BLUE BOOK

LAREDO, Texas, Dec. 23.--War-
like moves against the United States
by President Carranza in defense
of Mexican sovereignty are revealed
for the first time in Mexico's blue
book
This book contains notes exchang-
ed between the United States and
Mexico and confidential messages
covering the period from Carranza's
overthrow of Huerta through Mex
ico's neutrality in the world war.
It is designed. for private circula-
ton among governments, particularly
as propaganda in latin America.
There are war-like passages par
| ticularly in the record of the Per-
shing expedition into Mexico, called
in the @blue book" the Columbus
case" Eancho Villa raided Column
bus, N. M, March 8, 1916. One of
the documents contained in the book
Aeads:
"tDoeumeHt No. 10, telegram.) '---.~
- Celaya, Guanajunato, March II.
General Manuel M. Diegeuez En-
l
cam trying to prevent break with
| United States. Fear anything may
| happen. Place your troops in con-
of American troops. You should have
| everything ready to destroy the line
from N8gales, south, and order the
sa1An steps to be taken in Mace and
| Aqua Prieta, if war is declared. Or
4 20 nf &C
that will help US greatly. Hearty
greetings.
(Signed) "V. CARRANZA."
Vera Cruz Order
| A similar message was sent to
! General Plutarco Gales, at Aqua
| Prieta, Sonora, on that date. To Gem
eral Augustin Milan. at Jalapa Vera
/ Cruz, CarranZa wired:
"Our relations with United States
are at the verge of breaking ON ac-
count of Columbus incident. 1 sup
pose you are all ready. ...-
"March Immediately upon Vera
Cruz and take every kind of pre-
caution so that in case American
marines try to land you fight Them"
O. During the negotiations at Ell Paso
between General Hugh Scott and
General Alvero Obregon, following the
Columbus raid, Carranza teIegraphed
Obregon on May Z, from Chapulte-
pee: ri st. ......---
make known to General Scott any
American force crossing the boun-
dairy line without both governments
previously agreeing to a treaty to
that effect shall be considered as an
| invading force, and L will order it
to be fought"
This stand was repeated in subse-
! quent directions to Obregon. Accord
ing to the highest authority, it is
officially the stand of the Carranza
government today. But circumstances
may alter the case. For example
4 when the Twenty-fourth United
States infantry crossed into Juarez
last July and defeated Villistas who
had previously whipped the Carran-
Vista garrison. s-,- tss.,.<.-.
In his formal report on the com
/ pleted parley, Obregon said he did
not convey the warning to Scott at
that time but later when American
troops crossed into Mexico to pur-
sue the Glenn Springs raiders he
impaired Carranza's message.
Carranza telegraphed on May II
to General Alfredo Ricaut, at Mat
amoras, and General Reynaldo Cara
at Nuevo Laredo, the following:
eff American forces should come
across the border line into Our ter
ritory through any point of the line
under your charge, you shall order
your men to fight them immediately
The following statement was made
1 in a Circular note" to the Latin
20
pears in the blue book in connec-
ton with the incident at MazatIan
June IS, 1915, when Mexicans fired
on a boat load of American sailors
from the gunboat Annapolis.
1.-THE American government has
ordered the immediate concentration
of it's army upon our border with
visible hostility, wishing to drag
us into a war that neither the Mex
Jean government nor the people have
provoked. Although unfair and I'M
!: equal, such war seems unavoidable
since the government and people OF
Mexico are firmly disposed to de-
I fend their sovereignty and absolute
independence even. at the cost OF
= their blood and the destruction OF
their wealth.
InS CdfTdIlHd government INFORM
ed the state department during ne
gotiation concerning proposed with
drawal of the Pershing expedition
that "in case of. refusing to retire
there is nothing left but to defend
the Mexican territory by means OF
arms"
Nearly month later on June 20
1916, Secretary Lansing replied:
THE United States government
surely would be lacking in sincerity
and friendship if it did not make il
understood, very frankly that the
execution Of such a threat would
lead to the gravest consequences.
Ala of the foregoing communica.
lions may be accepted on the high
est authority as representing the at
titude of the Carranza government
today.
J Copyright, 1919, by United Press.)