Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-02-15
He Defends His Plan,

Director Barrett today he defends his
plan, and suggests that the criticisms
from Mexico City are prompted either by
misconceptiOn or inaccurate reports of
his proposition.
he lntimates that interests in favor
or Intervention and permanent occu-
patton OF Mexico may be angry with
MIN for suggesting a reasonable method
of settling the difficulties in the
troubled republic.
He quotes an anonymous letter. re-
ceived by him, which tells Of an enemy
high in public service In Washington
who cordially dislikes" Mr.. Barrett
and everything South American, who in
conjunction with interests desiring in :
terVentlon may attempt harm to the
cause advocated by Mr.. Barrett
Late last night" says Director Bar
rett. "and before I had been informed
Of the report from Mexico City. 1 re-
Immediately destroyed, believing it tc
be joke This letter. which l would
have preserved had l the slightest eS-
pectation OF this news from Mexico. az
best ] can quote and recall it, was as
follows:
/ ''As a friend Of yourself and YOU
southern republics l want to warn you
You are in danger of attack from twt
opposite sources on account of the state
ment you have given out in regard to the
settlement of the Mexican situation. One
of these is q certain influence that wants
intervention and military occupation. and
is bitter against the President and State
Department for their holding out against
intervention. Having SO far failed i'm thai
direction. it is now fncensed at your suS-
gestion and may turn on you both here
and in Mexico. : The other influence is a
man in a great department who cordial
ly diSlikes You and everything South
American. He is plainly jealous of your
q or,G
trade and of the growth of the Pan
American Union. Look out for him. as he
may endeayor to do YOU and your cause
HARM
Position of President.
The President and Secretary of State
Knox are understood to feel that Mr..
Barrett is getting beyond the realms of
his position as director of the pan Amer
lean. bureau, and exceedingly likely to
harm his present field of usefulness
Mr.. Barrett, in a statement made pub
lie the other day, suggesting the medi-
alton proposition, said he had consul. ed
d number of persons OH the subject and
that they We're in sympathy with him.
Inside information is that Mr.. Barrett did
not consult President Taft or Secretary
Knox, and that neither knew anything OF
his scheme until they saw 1t In the morn
ing newspapers. an act regarded as dis
courteous, unless Mr. Barrett is. able to
show that nothing of this sort was in
tended.
That it is the duty of the President
and the state Department to handle
everything relating to mediation, and that
any official holding subordinate posi-
ton more or less official should comma
nicate his suggestions first to officials OF
his own government, Is the attitude OF
high officials as to Mr.. Barrett, 1t be-
came known today. Any other course
would. it is pointed out, inevitably lead
to blunders and complications of q Sc
rious nature for the government.
Suggested as Mediator.
Mr.. Barrett's suggestions in the news
papers or elsewhere he received a tele-
gram from an alleged New York peace
society earnestly requesting that Mr..
Barrett be appointed sole mediator and
sent to Mexico at once. That the send
ing of such special envoy to Mexico
City has not been announced is con-
sidered significant.
Whether official steps will be taken 10
apprse Mr. Barrett of the adni.nistra-
ton s view could not be learned today.
Mr.. Barrett is director of the big bureau
by election, OF government board, at the
heaG o. which is Philander Knox, Secre-
ta~y ol State. There are twenty other
members of the board, one from each OF
the leading South and Central American
reprbiics The United States is, however,
the leading influence in the board
The Pen american Cnion is supported
by the United States and the republics of
Central and South America. Each pays
toward it's support by contribution based
upon population, and each nation has one
vote in the selection of a director. The
United States pays the largest part of the
EXPENSES and while Director Barrett has
no crcai connection with the Latin
American relations of the Cnited States
he is naturally i'm close relations to the
state Department in its dealings with the
republics of the south.
Message From Wilson.
The State Department issued the fol-
lowing statement on the subject OF Di-
rector Barrett's suggestion.
Ambassador Wilson telegraphs to in
ouire whether anything can be done to
restrain Mr. John Barrett's mischIevous
activity. He states that Mr.. Barrett's
utterances are being published In Mexico
City. and are producing a bad effect on
the situation. which calls for any thing
rather than sentimentality and amateur
politics. The ambassador adds that the
American colony at Mexico City resents
Mr.. Rarrett's utterances and protests
against them
CONTINUED on Second Page.)