MEXICO OFFICIALLY WHITE-WASHED

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3185, 8 September 1917, Page 9

MEXICO OFFICIALLY WHITE-WASHED

RECENT REPORTS DENIED STATEMENT FROM MEXICO CITY Concerning somo recently published statements in America (and briclly cabled here from time to time), regarding conditions iu Mexico, tho Acting-Secretary of the Mexican Treasury, Senor Kafael iSieto, authorised tho following statement through tho Mexican News Bureau:— "(1) Tho immigration of Mexican working mon returning to their former homes i'l-om the United States has no causu originating in Mexico. : "(2) It is absolutely false that there is penco and tranquillity only where there aro German interests, as tho Ciovernment gives protection everywhere to all classes wherever it is possible, and this comprises the greater portion or the Eopublic, with a few isolated exceptions. It is false that tho Government attacks American interests in favour of German interests. There is not a single case m which properties of Americans have been confiscated and sold to Germans, wot one instance can be cited. "(3) It is falso that the only bank that does business in Mexico is 'the German bank. All privato banks in Mexico are doing business. Tho Mercantile banking Company and the Mexico Uty Banking Company (American institutions), tho Bauk of Montreal, tho Canadian Bank of Commerce, and the Banking Company of Paris and Mexico (.French) are all in operation. The Government of Mexico has not 'taken a single cent from the American and English banks. That which they havo borrowed from Moxiean banks lias been approximately 30,000,000d0h (pesos) from Mexican banks, which are now enjoying conCessions. ' "(4) It is falso that Villa has been lately in Chihuahua, and tho statement that 'ho has been indicates the prejudiced character of tlio source of information. "(5) Tho statement that thero is less nhooting in Mexico at the presont tune because of 'tho embargo on arms and ammunition, and that disorders will be resumed when tlioro is a more liberal supply, is disproved by tho fact that the severest fighting of tho rovolutien took placo after tho embargo was established, while the cessation of disorder is duo ip the rapid restoration of normal conditions now going on in all portions ot the Uepublic. Tho assertion quoted only demonstrates that those responsible for it are entirely hostilo to tlie Government or President Carranza. ' "(6) There is no understanding whatever between tho Washington Government and that of Mexico for the suppression of news of disorders in tho latter country. ' . , "(7) No proposition has been mado to the Mexican Government looking to an alliance with Washington anil involving a loan of 'two hundred •million dollars to Mexico. Tlio statement that tlio Mexican capital is in direct wireless communication with Berlin is absui-d, einco it is a physical impossibility under present conditions. . "The further statement that a new group of Mexican millionaires might re. suit from such action, (the alleged alliance and proposed loan) ia an insult to the personnel of tho Government of Mexico." , German Activity.

Kv'cry possible pressure, including financial offers, is reported to' have been Tirought to bear by Germans and proGerm a«s to stop the campaign of the newspaper "El Universal" for the severance of relations between Mexico and Germany (writes a correspondent in the New York "Evening .Post"). . The campaign continuee to be tho main topic, oi conversation here. "El Universal" says editorially that in tho flood of coinmont which its stand has evoked no paper or person has 'tnken n pro-German stand or proposed that Mexico ally herself with tho Central Powers. Tho editorial declares that tho opinions of intellectual lenders were chosen,to give point to tho paper's'campaign, i>a Governmental officials, from tho nature- cf their positions, cculd say nothing aud politicians always played safe, while it was the purpose of the paper to give expression to tho opinion of tho real thinking peoplo o£ Mexico. . . Tho discussion of tho campaign has brought a renewal of charges that proGerman papers are being indirectly aided in their campaign against tho United States by free print paper supplied by firms in the United States. It is known that 400 rolls of paper were shipped by the steamer Monterey from a New York firm to Vera Cruz in April. It is charged that "La Opinion," of Vera Cruz, was offered part of this shipment freo if it would take a- pro-German stand. The paper refused, and the shipment reached Mexico City. Other papers here have repeatedly charged that tho 400 rolls woro given freo to pro-German papers in the capital. Telegraphic news, written with the obvious puipose of misrepresenting the United States, comes from New York, and apparently has no difficulty in passing the censor.