OCR Text |
Show FAIL TO AGREE AT FIRST CONFERENCE MEXICANS DEMAND IMMEDIATE WITHDRAWAL OF TROOPS IN PURSUIT OF VILLA. Representatives of Mexican Government Govern-ment Told That If Evacuation Is Insisted Upon the Conference Would Go Into a Deadlock. El Pnso, Texas. Two conflicting propositions developed immediately nfter tho beginning In the Mexican customs house In Juarez late Saturday Satur-day of the conforenco to decide tho futuro disposition of tho American ex podltlonary forces in Mexico. They are understood temporarily to havo increased tlio gravity of tho no collations. Tho Initial meeting was hold behind closed doors In the big grccn-tlnted room which Francisco Villa used us his council chamber when ho dominated northern Mexico and Juarez wan his headquarters. Generals Hugh L. Scott and Frederick Funston represented tho United States. Tho Mexican con forces were General Alvaro Obrcgon, Mexican minister of war, and General Jacinto Trevlno, military commander of tho northeast district of Mexico. Tho progress of the negotiations was hot divulged, but from an nuthorlta tivo sourco two tilings wero learned. First, that tho Mexican representatives representa-tives reiterated tho wish expressed In General Carranza'B recent note to tho Wnshington government thnt tho American troops should bo withdrawn from Mexican soil at an early date. Second, that they wero informed by tho American officials that tho latter woro not empowered to discuss the withdrawal of General Pershing's columns. col-umns. It Is understood tho American representatives repre-sentatives told tho Mexican conferees that If tho do facto government insisted in-sisted on an American ovacuatlon tho conforenco would go Into n deadlock and tho wholo matter would rovort to a diplomatic discussion between Washington Wash-ington and Mexico City. Tlio Moxlcans further wero Informed that the purpose of tho present conference, con-ference, bo far as tho United States is concernod, Is tho dovolopmcnt of a specific plan for tho co-operation of the American and do facto armies in wiping wip-ing out tho bandit groups that have spilled so much blood along tho border and havo repeatedly taken Amorlcan llfo In tho interior of Mexico. It is understood that General Obro-con, Obro-con, the Mexican minister of war; prior to tho conference, openly expressed a disinclination to discuss any other subject sub-ject than withdrawal and thnt ho carried car-ried this attltudo Into tho initial meeting. |