Las Vegas optic. (East Las Vegas, N.M.) 1908-1921, 1913-07-17
CONTROLS PART OF MEXICO
MANY AMERICAN INTERESTS ARE
IN JEOPARDY IN TERRITORY
COVERED
THIS WOULD ABSOLVE HUERTA
PlEDRAS NEGRAs CONSULATE is
SAID TO BE IN DANGER OF
GREAT DAMAGE

Washington, July 17.-State depart
officials said today that the protest of
Governor Carranza, leader of the con-
stitutionalists, against recognition OF
the Huerta government, had not yet
been received.
1t is understood that Governor Car
rama combines his protest with pc
tition that he and his followers be re-
cognized as faction in de facto CON
troll Of a portion of the country. Some
diplomats here point out that one rea-
son which could justify the granting
of Carranza's petition is that the
rights and interests of the United
States are so far affected as to war
rant a definition of its own relations
to the two warning factions in Mexico.
Among the tests which would be ap-
piled in considering the merit Of Car
ranza's petition would be whether an
actual de facto political organization
exists among the insurgents sufficient
to constitute it, if left to itself, a po-
litical entity, capable Of discharging
the duties and obligations Of state
among nations.
II the Carranza government should
receive recognition as belligerents the
Huerta government would be absolved
from satisfying further claims made
by Americans for losses in the coun-
try controlled by the constitutionalists
What Power Inquired
Just what foreign power had inquir-
ed for a definition of this governments
attitude in the present situation was
still unknown officially today though
reports in official circles mentioned
Great Britain and France. The denial
from Berlin that Germany had made
representations was generally accept
ed and removed that country from the
list.
The report that the situation had
been discussed by representatives Of
the powers in Paris yesterday seemed
to strengthen the belief that France
was interested. 1t was pointed out
that the French have interests in
Mexico. French interests are said to
control the Mexican national banks.
The Banco Central, is another fin
ancial institutio in which the French
investors are said to have heavy hold
ing. They also have Mexican rail
road securities. Germany's interests
are said to lie largely in agricultural
and nationwide hardware business.
While American losses are believed
to have been greatest in the reyolu-
tions, English losses also have been
heavy throgh destruction Of railroad
property. French losses, it is said,
have been largely so-called specula-
tive losses, that is, losses of what
would hav( been profits had not a Sc
ries of revolutions depressed business.
Both the White House and the state
department continued to observe strict
silence on the situation, the president
and Secretary Bryan evidently waiting
a first hand report from Ambassador
Wilson, who is expected here about
July a.
From official sources, however, it
was learned that the state department
had been informed that the anti-Amer-
ican demonstrations in Mexico City
were entirely artificial and stimulated
because of the lack Of recognition Of
the Huerta government and for the
purpose of demanding the power Of
the provisional government to control
them.