The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-08-31
State Department Turns Atten-
tion to Immense Indebted
ness Being Piled Up.
AMOUNTS TO MANY MILLIONS
International Commission of
American and Mexican Or
hcials Is Proposed.
Especial to The rimes-Dispatch.1

Especial to The Times Dispatch
Washington, August sO-Mexico
will have to settle to the last cent
for millions OF dollars damage done
to property owned by Americans in
the southern Republic when the. reign
or rebellion, begun three years ago. is
over. During the present lull in the
negotiations between the United States
| and the Huerta government, the State
Department is turning Its attention
to the immense Indebtedness that
his successors.
An international commission would
ascertain this Indebtedness. 1t was
definitely stated to-day
Officials of the State Department said
to-day that by reason of the Afadero
rebellion and the present disturbances,
Americans already had sustained a
loss of s5o0.ooo.o00.
The international commission will
be charged with ascertaining:
First, the original value OF the prop
erty.
Second, it's depreciation.
Third, what would have been It's
present value
The same officials say that a fair
international commission In determin-
ing claim would take these three
items at their full value. for the rea-
son that Madero and Huerta were
given full opportunity to make some
move for the arrest OF depreciation
by the restoration OF peace in the
country.
There Is now n so called commission
sitting ut Mexico City, but 1t Is COM
posed entirely OF Mexican officials, and
they say it is making the minimum of
progress: in other words. that very
few claims have reached the stage OF
settlement. and settlement, except
on promissory note, appears to be
an impo ssibility with the Hucrta gov
crnment
The commission which the State De-
partment has in mind would. however.
be composed of Mexican and American
officials. and it's decision would un-
doubtedly be final because the Congress
of Mexico and the Congress OF the
United States would give 1t both in
structions and power to act.
1t might be that Mexico would be
enabled by the notation OF bonds guar
anteed by friendly United States gov
ernment to pay off It's enormous claims
The most disagreeable means is one
that has sometimes to be enforced
compelling Mexico to hypothecate her
revenues for the payment of the claims
orders apparently emanating from
responsible sources in circulation at
the state Department are to the effect
that the Mexican situation shall be
allowed Ito rest" until after the return
OF the President from his week end
trip to Cornish, ~ II.
Secretary Bryan was at the State
Department this morning. He sent
dispatches to the President giving him
the developments of day. Very few
teiegrnmS arrived from the cons,1s
during the day.
oihcials say there Is no Immediate
necessity of communicating with Pre-
Envoy Lind. ia
They assert that Mr.. Lind is, by this
.ime, probably aware Of the desire OF
the PRESIDENT that all that the i,resi
dent has said shall be given time to
DC thoroughly diEested, not only hy
Huerta. but by the rural population
OF Mexico, who will hear OF the Presi
dents message from the consuls
throughout Mexico.
The state Department discounts ma
unnecessarily alarming the reports
that at to-morrow's fiesta in Mexico
City there may be popular dcmonstra-
lions against Americans. They say
that the same report was circulated
when Mr.. Lind was about to get TO
Mexico City on sunday At any rate.
there is no fear for Mr.. Lind
Nhiic the flight of Americans from
Mexico continues, Huerta lis spread
ms broadcast tho news that 1t is on
ttely useless for American citizens to
leave. American officials understand,
however. that he is making thia state
ment to lay the foundation for an.
argument before IN International com
mission or before any commission on
claims that American cttizens left
MeSico on orders OF their own Presi-
dent. and that the Mexican government,
therefore could not be held responsi-
bic for depreciation in the value OF
their property.