Jasper County Democrat, Volume 15, Number 75, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 December 1912 — U. S. ON VERGE OF OCCUPYING MEXICO [ARTICLE]

U. S. ON VERGE OF OCCUPYING MEXICO

Taft Sends Ultimatum to President Madero. WARSHIPS READY TO FIRE Evasion of Request for Punishment of Slayers of Americans and For Indemnities Leads Official to Determine Action. v Washington, Dec. 20.—The United States is on the verge of occupying Mexico. Stirred by the defiant and evasive attitude of President Madero toward demands by the United States, that Mexican murderers of Americans be punished and that indemnity be given for the loss of American life and property, President Taft sent an ultimatum to Madero under which he must act or suJer the downfall of his government, m Warships Are Ready. The battleships Minnesota, South Carolina, Michigan and Kansas were recently sent to Mexican waters in the hope that Madero and his' advisers might be brought to their senses. While ostensibly on the way back to Hampton roads they will be kept ready for action. The crisis with Mexico has come at the end of a long series of diplomatic exchanges between this government and Mexico which taxed the patience of Presideht Taft and Secretary of State Knox. j The conclusion has been reached that the Madero government is hopelessly impotent and the time has come when the United States must cease temporizing with the situation. Will Ask Congress to Act. .It is understood that President Taft has taken steps to acquaint Presidentelect Wilson with the situation in'order that plans may be shaped to harmonize with the views of the incoming president, According to the present plan, if by the time President Taft returns from Panama, Madero has not given a satisfactory response to the American ultimatum, the case of Mexico will be placed before congress with the request that the president be authorized to enforce the demands of the United States. The steps proposed by the president and the state department to enforce redress are as follows: First —The ultimatum to Mexico. Second —The dropping of the neutrality bars between the United States and Mexico, thus enabling the revolutionists to secure arms | and forcing the downfall ofJMadero from, within.

Third—The blockading of the ports of Mexico and the seizure of a portion Of Mexican territory. Given One More Chance. The attitude of Madero has been such that the president for a time considered taking immediate action without sending further diplomatic exchanges to the Mexican government. It was finally concluded to give Madero one more opportunity in the ultimatum. The move was agreed upon by President Taft, Secretary of State Knox and Henry Lane Wilson, American ambassador to Mexico, after a series of conferences held during the last few days. " Tfie decision was forced by the insolent and shuffling reply received by the United States from the Mexican government Decenfber 14, in answer to a sharp note which was sent by President Taft to President Madero on September 15. Demands Made on Mexico, In the September note President I Taft demanded punishment for the ; murderers of Americans in Mexico i and sent a long list of specific outrages. In addition demand was made | for indemnity for the loss of American life and property. The Mexican reply states that the Americans killed in Mexico deserved Itieir fate and that their treatment was no worse than that accorded Mexicans in the United States. The demand for indemnity is ignored in the Mexican reply. Madero admits that he can neither restore order nor protect Americans and evades the question of damages for losses caused by his failure to establish order.