Arizona republican., 1920-04-17
SONORA APPEALS .FORRECOGN|T|ON
 AS bELL|CERENT
Republican A. p. Leased WireJ

AGUA PRIETA, Sonora, April 16.- The state of Sonora will appeal to the
 United States for recognition as a bel ligerent. Announcement of the appeal Elias, leader in the Sonora revolt against the Carranza government of Mexico.
 Sonora hopes to be recognized as a belligerent, according to Senor Elias, and thus forestall permission being granted Carranza troops to cross
 United States territory to attack the state from the border The appeal, il granted, also would throw open the
 ports of the state on the international boundary to trade with the United States without restrictions.
 Senor Elias said recognition a
 belligerent would in no way involve recognition by the United States of the government of Sonora, nor otherwise
 involve its relations with Mexico as
 whole. He said that in previous Mexi- can revolutions the United States had
 recognized any faction as a belligerent
 that had been in possession of any port of entry to the United States for
 72 hours. Troops were ordered sent
 here with all dispatch to guard the city against any attack of federal au-
 thorities when it became known the government of Mexico had asked the
 United States for permission to send troops here from Juarez. Chihuahua, through United States territory. Gen eral J NJ. Pina. in command of the Sonora army in this district. ordered all garrison commanders to send all available troops to Agua Prieta. Four hundred were marching here from Naco, Sonora, tonight.
 The Sonora officials said they had received assurances strong representa- tions would be made at Washington against narrniSCinn heinz expected border American states to also protest to Washington against the CarranZa request
 General P. Elias Gales. commander in-chief of the Sonora forces. in a telegram received here today from Hermosillo, said Sonora soldiers were continuing their invasion of the state of Sinaloa, but no mention was made of their present whereabouts or wheth- or additional fighting had taken place
 No Intent To Remain Severed
 AGUA PRIETA, Son., April 17-So- nora has not proclaimed itself re- public, nor does it intend to remain severed from the republic of Mexico, but it has withdrawn from the Car ranza government of Mexico and the entire forces of the state now are in revolution against the present national administration. Francisco Elias. leader of the revolutionary movement in east ern Sonora, said here tonight.
 Senor Elias said he was expressing the sentiments of Governor Adolfo de Ia Huerta and General P. Elias Gales, l acting governor and commander -in- chief of the Sonora military forces
 ffThe state of Sonora withdrew from the domination of the Carranza die merely" said Senor Elias. The withdrawal was to uphold the sovereign rights of Sonora Governor de la Huerta in a formal statement ex- plained this purpose. He said Carranza l planned to send troops into the state ! to set up a military dictatorship in de- l fiance of the Mexican constitution. A 1 demand first was made on Carranza to l have him recognize the states rights | and he refused.
 "Carranza threatened to break the | Sonora movement with troops and his | threat has been met by Sonora arm 1 ing. Thus a peaceful revolution has | has no fight against Mexico or any against Carranza and what he repre- 1 sents.
 Neither can the movement properly l be called a secession unless it is d | temporary one When Sonora is cer- | tain of her constitutional rights she | will return to the Mexican republic | pendent commonwealth. ready to fight | for it's full rights
 Elias went to Washington as one | cans who sought recognition of Car | ~x,;&