The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-02-15
By His Efforts to Settle the
Mexican Revolution.
HE is DENOUNCED BY KNOX
And the American Colony in
City of Mexico.
He Receives a Warming in an
Anonymous Letter.

Washington, Feb. 15.-The clash
between Director John Barrett of the
Pan-American Union and the state
department over Barrett's proposal for
a mediation commission" to bring
about peace in Mexico is hardly less
a sensation in official circles here than
the Mexican mbrogl1o itself. The two
affairs divide attention today.
The state departments memorandum
last night characterizing Director Bar
rett's proposal as "mischievous activ-
ity, sentimentality and amateur poll
tics" dropped into official circles like
a bomb Coupled with the protest OF
the American colony in Mexico City,
produced situation startling to say
the least.
The Pan-American Union is sup
ported by the United States and the
republics of Central and South Amer
lea Each pays toward its support by
contribution based upon population
and each 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 official
connection with the Latin-American
relations of the United States, he is
naturally in close relations to the
state department in it's dealings with
the republics of the south.
Defends His Position.
Director Barrett today gave out a
statement defending his mediation
lieved that his action would strengthen
the attitude of the administration
against intervention.
ITO brand as amateur politics tho
suggestion of mediation of a great
and accomplished board and practical
agency of international friendship, and
to call as mischievous activity and
sentimentality the application of in
ternational cooperation to stop i'm
mediately actual fighting and protect
lives, seems to be the result of mis-
understanding of what I actually had
in mind" the director said.
What really and greatly fear and
deplore is that some person or persons
either in the United States or in Mex
ico, or in both places, working to-
gether anxious to bring about forcible
Intervention and permanent occupa-
ton of Mexico by United States
troops, and consequently angry with
me for presenting perfectly feasible
plan for immediate cessation of hos
tilities by international mediation,
have seized upon me and my simple,
informal and personal suggestion as
instruments to force Intervention and
have worked up sentiment in the
American colony to this end.
I'm view of the severity of the COM
plant of the American colony and the
attitude of the state department. 1 am
forced in self defense to make public
fact that I would infinitely prefer
never to mention were 1 not the sub
ject of such criticism.
An Anonymous Letter.
Late last night and before 1 had
been informed of the report from
Mexico City L received an anonymous
letter. AS best 1 can quote and recall
it was as follows:
AS a friend of yourself and your
southern republics L want to warn
you. You are in danger of attack
from two opposite sources on account
of the statement you have given out
in regard to the settlement of the Mex
lean situation. One of these is a cer-
tain influence that wants Intervention
and military occupation and bitter
against the president and state de-
partment for their holding out against
Intervention. Having so far failed in
that direction it is now incensed at
your suggestion and may turn you
both here and in Mexico. The other in
huence is a man in a great department
who cordially dislikes you and every
thing South American. He is plainly
jealous of your work for the Pam
American union. Look out for him as
he may endeavor to do you and your
cause harm
81 cannot believe that this anony-
nous statement is worthy of actual
credence. 1 have the most profound
respect and regard for the head or the
department to which this letter may
have referred and don't believe for
a moment that il refers to him. 1t
must to some subordinate, but who he
is, / cannot imagine.
with these observations, unless
am further and unjustly attacked L
shall have nothing more whatever to
say on the Mexican situation lest IL be
misconstrued and do HARM