VILLA.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 1 June 1917, Page 4

VILLA.

BRIBED TO MAKE WAR-

GERMANS PAY BANDIT CHIEF ■ ■ < £50,000...

A correspondent of the Unite< Press, who has just arrived from i trip through Mexico, has learned tha two German agents held a conference with General Villa on February 12 urging the renewal of border raids ii the event cf hostlities between the United States and Germany. Germany’s object was to assure the occupation of part of the Unitec States army, even if General Car ranza, the President of Mexico, re mained neutral. Villa received £SO, 000 in gold to bind the compact, anc the promise of a large sum eacl month to keep up the forces. Villa was not to delay action if Carranza broke with the United States forth with.

The German intrigue was most apparent in Mexico City. Carranza was influenced by bis advisers, who wert in close touch with Germans agents, to send out an embargo Note. This was the result of the original attempt to haye the exports of the Tampico oilfields cut off, the instigators foreseeing that such a course might result in the landing of troops, and hoping that the resulting situation would bring a clash between Britain and the United States.

One of the principal newspapers in the capital is said to be under German subsidy to print news favourable to Germany, and the influence cf money works in other ways, swaying the de facto Government towards Germany'. Such machinations are comparatively easy, owing-to the jealousies and ambitions of the military and political leaders.