Americans In Fear Of Mexican Attack.

New York Times 100 years ago today, June 7, 1913:
Three Hundred Ask President Wilson for Protection While Living.
THEIR ARMS TAKEN AWAY
If Necessary, They Will Adopt Defense Measures That May Embarrass Administration.
    TAMPICO, Mexico, June 6.— Three hundred Americans living in southern Tamaulipas, representing sixty-eight families, have demanded in a long message to President Wilson, which was sent through Consul Miller, here, to know, "once for all," whether they can expect protection from their home Government, since they "do not desire to take measures for our own safety which would embarrass our Government without giving due notice beforehand."
    The message of the Americans was transmitted by wireless through Consul Miller to W. W. Canada, the American Consul in Vera Cruz, to be forwarded to Washington. It says in part:
    "Having been left without any protection whatever on the part of both sides in the pending controversy, therefore we can look for protection only from our own country. We must know once for all if we can expect same. Having been subjected to slights and a great variety of indignities and gross abuse during the last few days, the situation calls for most serious preparations for our own personal safety, and the defense of our families and our interests. Therefore, we have assembled for the purpose of considering the best way. We consider protection necessary now, since after death it will be of no utility."
    The message asserts in addition that the petitioners have borne financial losses silently, but that many of them cannot obey the advice to "get away if in danger," as their departure would mean the abandoning of the accumulations of lifetimes.
    "We consider the lives of ourselves and our families in danger, and the situation has justified this petition several times in the last few days," the message continues. "It is no longer doubtful that the slightest spark will bring on the dread conflagration at any moment. In many instances the small arms sold to American citizens on the part of the American Government for their protection have been demanded, and in some instances they have been taken."

Special to The New York Times.
    WASHINGTON, June 6.— Information confirming in every respect the statement contained in a Havana dispatch printed in The New York Times this morning that the complications of Mexican politics had forced Francisco de la Barra, the Mexican Minister of Foreign Affairs, to leave that perturbed country, was obtained here to-day. Señor de la Barra, who had been Ambassador to the United States and was Provisional President of the Mexican Republic in 1911, will make an extended stay in Europe, as the Havana dispatch to The Times told.
    This course on Señor de la Barra's part was decided on after full conference with Provisional President Huerta and Gen. Felix Diaz, and received their approval. Señor de la Barra takes the view that a movement to bring about his nomination and election as President of the republic must be avoided, as likely to lead to greater confusion in political conditions in his country and not calculated to reconcile the Constitutionalists with the remnants of the Diaz regime now dominant under Gen. Huerta.
    There has been received here a statement prepared by Señor de la Barra in explanation of his determination to go abroad, so as to make it impossible, under Article 72 of the Mexican Constitution, for his friends to nominate him for President. In part it runs:
    "For the re-establishment of peace, the consolidation of progress, and for the realization of an effective democracy, all Mexicans must subordinate their personal interests and aspirations to the vital interests and greater aspirations of the nation.
    "In view of this obligation and actuated by the motives — now more powerful than ever — which I outlined in a letter that I had the honor to address to the members of the Executive Committee of the Liberal Democratic Party and in the declarations relative to my nomination for the Presidency of the republic which were published shortly after my letter, I have believed it opportune to ratify those declarations and, at the same time, respectfully to insist upon the withdrawal of my nomination for the Vice Presidency of the republic which that party did the honor to confer upon me. I also wish to reiterate my determination not to aspire to the Presidency of the republic.
    "With the precepts of Article 72 of the Constitution and its corollaries in mind, I shall leave the national territory as soon as I am able to arrive at an adequate solution of the delicate international affairs which are pending at the Chancellory."