Show LATIN AMERICAN NATIONS The ike be President Deai nt at Length HI Ml In Mexican Troubles Trouble the past year the Republic DURING 1 J I of f V celebrated celebrate tho the one hundredth anniversary of or Its In In- In dependence The Tile United States Sates sent In In honor of ot this event a special secal em- em to Caracas where the cordial reception re ro- and generous hospitality shown show it i were most gratifying as a a a further pr proof of of the tho good relations and friendship friendship friend friend- ship existing between that county country and the the- the United States The recent IolI political events event In Mexico received attention tenton from this government go ern govern govern- ment mont because of or the tile exceedingly delicate delicate del del- deli deli- cate and difficult situation created along our southern border and the tho necessity ne ne- ne- ne for tor taking me measures ures properly to safeguard American interests Interest The government of or the United St States tes In its Is desire to secure a proper observance and enforcement of or tho the called so-called so-caled so neutrality neutrality neu neu- statutes of or the federal government govern govern- ment m nt nt issued directions to the tho appropriate appropriate officers to exercise a diligent I I antI vigilant regard for the requirements require require- anC ments merits of such rules and laws Al Although Although Although Al- Al though a Q condition of actual armed conflict con con- filet existed d there was no official recognition rec roe of ot belligerency involving the technical neutrality obligations of oC in international In- In law On the of March last ast in the tho ab- ab settee of ot the secretary of or state I 1 had a personal Interview with wih Mr Wilson the ambassador ambassador of the United States In in which ho reported to metot me tot the Conditions in Mexico were much more critical than tile the press dispatches dis dis- ls- ls patches disclosed that President Diaz WIB vau wat on a volcano of or popular uprising th that t the small outbreaks which had oc occur oc- oc cur red were only symptomatic of or the whole e con n that tho a very largo large per percent percent cent of the were in sympathy 8 cert with the tho te Insurrection that a general generl wih explosion was probable at any time in which case he feared that the tile or 01 more American residents in Mexico might be assailed and that the tho very lar large American Investments might be Injured or destroyed cd Deemed it Wise Vise to Assemble Army Division After th the conference with wih the secretary sec see rotary of or war mir and the lie secretary of o the tho navy aa I I thought it I wise to assemble an arm army division of of- o full ful strength at San Antonio Tex a briJ brigade do of oC three regiments regi regi- motIfs ments at Galveston a of or infantry In Infantry In- In fantry at Los Ios Angeles district of or i California together together with wih a squadron of or battleships and cruisers arid and transports at Galveston and a I small squadron of oC ships at San Diego At t the sumo samo time through our representative e at nt the thC City of oC Mexico 1 I ex- ex pi to president Diaz the tile hope that no apprehensions II might ht result front from these military mili unfounded conjectures as to tar tary maneuvers and assured him that the they had no ant which should cause concern to his government o Tho The mobilization was effected with great grent promptness and anti on the Hah of or March through the secretary of or war and nd to the sen secretary of tho tile nn navy In a aletter aletter letter leter addressed to the chief of or staff star i I issued tho the following Instructions It seems my duty as commander in I chief chic to place troops In sufficient sufficient suf BUt number numb r where whre If I Congress shall direct that the they enter Mexico to save sa American lives os J and property proper proper- ty an effective movement may moy be bo promptly made mado Meantime the prompt movement nt of the troops In Texas and elsewhere near the accompanied with sincere assurances assurances assur assur- ances of ot the tile utmost will good good wl to toward toward toward to- to ward the present pres nt Mexican government government govern govern- ment meat and with wih larger and more frequent fre fre- quent patrols along along the tho border to prevent pre ent insurrectionary expeditions from American soil sol will wil hold up the tile hands of or the existing government government govern govern- ment and will have a healthy moral morl effect ct to prevent attacks upon Americans and their property In any subsequent sub general general Internecine strife Again the tile sudden mobilization tion of ot a division of oC troops has hns ton been a great test of our army and full tul of ot useful grent instruction while tho maneuvers that are arc thus made mode pOssible possible possible pos pos- sible can occupy oCcupy the troops and their officers to great advantage Tho The nE assumption by the tile press that I contemplate intervention on Mexican 01 oil oll to protect American J lives or property Is of course gat itous ous b because ca e I 1 seriously doubt whether I have Ilave such authority under under un un- der tier any circumstances and If I I had hod I would not exercise it without without with with- out ou t express congressional approval Indeed 3 as you OU know I have al already alread already al- al read ready declined without Mexican consent to order a troop of or cavalry to protect the tile breakwater we are constructing Just across the border In Mexico at nt the tho mouth of the tile Colorado Colorado Colorado Col Col- orado Iver to save e a the tile Imperial valley although h tile the vale had ha scattered the tue Mexican troops and were taking our horses and supplies and frightening our workmen workmen workmen work work- men away My determined purpose however Is to be In a position so that when wilen danger to American lives and property In Mexico threatens and tho the existing government government government govern govern- ment Is rendered helpless b by the tho Insurrection I can promptly prompt execute exe exe- cute congressional lonal orders to protect protect protect pro pro- them wih with effect this tIlls letter letter let let- Meantime I send you ou ter through the secretary to call your our attention to some things s in connection with tile the presence of the division In the tile southwest which have doubtless occurred to you ou but which I 1 wish to emphasize want to tomake tomake In the first place I make malc the tho mobilization a first class training for the army and I wish you would give your time and that of or the war cole college c to advising and carrying out maneuvers of ot a useful use use- ful character and plan to continue to do this during the next three months By that time wo we may mar ex expect expect that either cither Ambassador Wilson's Wilsons Wilsons Wilson's Wl- Wl Wil Wil- sons son's fears will Il have havo been heen realized and chaos and It its consequences have ensued or that the present n of T n will 11 have P ha so a readjusted t dm matters tt rs r.'s as t to s secure tranquility tranquility-a a a result devoutly to be bo wished The troops can then be returned to their posts I understand understand under under- stand stant from you In Washington that General Aleshire said that you ou could Generl probably meet all al the additional additional addi addi- tonal expense of or this tills whole movement movement move move- ment out of ot tho the present appropriations appropriations if the tile troops continue in Texas for fr f three months I sincerely sIncere hope this Is so 50 I observe from the tile newspaper that you OU havo have no blank cartridges es but I presume that this tills Is an error or that It will wil be easy to procure those for use as soon as your maneuvers begin Second Texas Texa Is a state ordinarily peaceful but you OUI cnn can not put troops Into it without running running running run run- ning risk of or a collision between tho the people of or tho the state and especially the Mexicans who live lve In Texas near the border and who sympathize sympathize with the and the tile federal soldiers l For or that reason I Ibel beg you ou to be as careful as you youcan youcan can bel to prevent friction fricton of or any kind Wo We WI were able in Cuba with the tile army of ot pacification there of something something some some- thing tiling more than troops to maintain them for Cor a year without any trouble and I hope you can do dothe dothe the tile same t thing Ing In Texas Please give Ive to this unu ad adIse advise ad- ad vise Ise all al the officers in command of or orthe the necessity for tor very vory great reat circumspection cr- cr cir cir- cum In this tills regard Third One of tho tile great troubles Jn itt tile the concentration of ot troops I Ithe ithe ia the danger dager o of disease and ant I suppose suppose sup sup- have adopted the pose pos that you 0 most modern methods for the preventing preventing pre pre- venting and If It necessary Corto for Cor stamping to out o t epidemics That Thatis a Is so o much a part parlor of or a campaign that It is IT hardly seems scents necessary for Cor me to call attention to it I. I Finally I wish you to examine the question queston of the patrol of or the border and put as man many troops on that horter work as a la Js practicable and more than are now engaged in it I. I In order to prevent the use of or our borderland for the tue carrying on of the insurrection I have given as assurances assurances M- M to the tile Mexican ambassador dor br on this point I 1 sincerely hope that this tills experience ex ex- will wil always alwa's be bo remembered bored by b the tile army arm and navy as a useful means of or education and I should be greatly greaty disappointed If It resulted In any nn injury or disaster to our forces from any cause I have taken a good gool deal of or responsibility responsibility in ordering this tills mobilization tion but I am am ready to answer for tor forIt forit ton it If It only you OU and those under tinder you ou use the tho utmost care to avoid the difficulties which I 1 have pointed out out You may ma have a copy of this letter letter letter let let- ter made and left lef with General Carter and such other generals In command as you ma may think wise wie and necessary to guide Julle them In their course but to be regarded as confidential I J am moro more than happy happ to here re record record record re- re cord the fact tact that all al apprehensions as asto asto asto to the thc effect of or the presence of or so 80 largo large a military force torce In Texas proved groundless no disturbances occurred tho the conduct of or the troops was exemplary exemplAry exemplary exem exem- plary and tho tile public reception and treatment of or them was all aU that could coul have ha been b en desired and anti this notwithstanding notwithstanding standing tho the pre presence enc of or a lar large e number number num nurn- I I ber her of Mexican refugees In the border territory From time to time communications were received from Amba Ambassador Wilson Ison who had returned lo 10 o Mexico confirming the view that hat the tho massing of ot American troops In th the tho neighborhood hud had had good effect effect By dispatch of April Apri 3 11 1911 the tho ambas- ambas ambassador eador rador said ald The Tho continuing gravity ra it of or the situation situation sit sit- here and the chaos that would unton should the con constitutional authorities au au- nu- nu be b eventually overthrown thus thuR great greatly Increasing tho the danger to which American lives and property are arc ar already subject confirm the wisdom of oC the tho President In taking those military mili ml- ml tary precautions which making every ery allowance for tor the te dignity and tho the soy sov t of ot a n frend friendly stale state are arc duo duoto duoto duoto to our nationals abroad Charged Char cl as I am till with wih the tile responsibility rf pon- pon aE these lives anti and of safeguarding property properly I J am bound to lo say to thu Ut- Ut department that our military dispositions on the frontier have Ilave produced an ton effective Impression on the lexI Mex- Mex lex- lex I I lean l c mind and anti may mar at al any moment prove to be the only guaranties for 01 tho tile safety b of our nationals natIonal and their pro property If I It should eventuate that conditions here require moro active and Congress Con Con- m measures b by the President bo be made mado attacks might gress sporadic upon the tile lives and aOI property of our nationals but tho the ultimate result would be order and adequate tion ton The Tile Insurrection continued and t resulted In engagements between tho the regular rC Mexican Mexican Mex Mex- ican lean troops and the Insurgents arid and this tilis I alon along the tue border so that In Jn several In Instances instances In- In i stances bullets from front the thc contending forces struck American citizens enga engaged ed In their lawful occupations on American sol soil Proper protests were made against t those Invasions protest o of American rights to the Ule Mex MOX- Mexican ican authorities On April Apri 17 1911 I re received received received re- re the following folo telegram from the governor of Arizona As a result of or today's fighting across the tho international line lne but with within wih- wih to in gunshot range of or the heart of or Douglas five O f Americans wounded on this side of the line thing Even E points to repetition of these thes casualties on to tomorrow tomorrow to- to morrow and arid while the federals seem disposed to keep their agreement not to fire fr Into Douglas the tile position of or the Insurrectionists is such that when fighting occurs on the east eat and southeast of the people living In Douglas Dou las are put In danger of or their lives In my Judgment rad rad- radIcal radical ical measures arc are needed to protect our Innocent nt people and If anything can bo be 0 done to stop the fl fighting at Agua Aua Prieta the situation calls cals Corsuch for Cor such action acton It I Is impossible to safeguard safe sate guard the tile people of ot Douglas unless the tue town bo be 0 vacated Can anything be done to relieve situation now flow acu acute Ic After a conference with th the of ot state Acer the following telegram was wa sent to Governor Go Sloan on April 18 1911 and made public Your dispatch received Have made urgent demand upon Mexican government government govern govern- ment to Issue Instructions to prevent across i hn border by h Mexican fed fed- eral troops p and a d i di am lr awaiting i reply Meantime I have sent ent direct warning to the Mexican and Insurgent forces near Douglas I infer Iner from front your our dispatch dispatch dis dis- patch that both parties partes attempt to heed the warning but that in tho tile strain and exigency of oC the contest wild bullets still find their wn way into bulet Douglas The situation might justify me In ordering our troops to cross crOES the bor border er and attempt to stop the fighting fight ing or to fire upon both combatants from the tile American Americ fr side But If f I take this step I must face the tho possibility of or resistance and greater reater bloodshed and also the danger of or having our motives misconstrued and misrepresented misrepresented and o of thus Inflaming Mexican can popular indignation against man many thousand Americans now In IQ Mexico and jeopardizing their lives and ad prop prop- crt erty The pressure for or general intervention inter Inter- under such Sucil conditions It I might not venton be b practicable to resist It I is impossible impossible im Im- im- im possible to foresee or r reckon ckon the consequences con coil sequences of such a course and |