Evening star., 1915-06-02
who will deliver It to the leaders OF
factions with which they deal.
DuVal Vests Report.

Duval Vests Report.
The Administrators policy is the cul-
mination of several weeks of confer
snces between the President and his Of
ncial family. The return of DuVal
West. who spent three months person
ally investigating conditions in Mexico
for the President. was the deciding fac
tor He brought back reports showing
that the food situation was serious,
that the country crops had failed and
Industries were exhausted, that the soil
had not been titled for lack Of cattle
which had been slaughtered or exported
for revenue. and that terrible condf-
ton of affairs for the large masses OF
innocent non -combatants was ahead
unless remedial measures were under
taken.
laid plans for the relief work to be
carried out IN cooperation with the
State Department.
The Carran1a agency here has issued
several statements denying that short
age of food existed and saying the
stories OF famine are exaggerated. but
the Washington government is not
taking these into consideration. because
Of its reports through diplomatic and
consular sources and the personal IN
vestigation of Mr.. West just completed
In this connection, Elliseo Arredondo,
head of the Carranza agency. made pub
lie the following telegram from Gen.
Carranza, dated Vera Cruz:
The last military successes have
made clear the triumph of our cause
and, therefore, / have allowed the free
importation of all kinds of food sup
plies into the City of Mexico"
Denies Seizure of Corn.
The Washington government has re-
peatedly received assurances from Gen.
Carranza that food would be permitted
to be shipped to Mexico City to relieve
famine conditions. Official reports,
however. told few days ago of the
seizure by Carranza troops of large
shipment of corn started for the capl-
tai A statement by Mr.. Arredondo last
night reiterated denial of this charge.
Reports from many sections OF the
southern republic were made pubic py
the Red Cross. telling of looting and
suffering. Among these were kilograms
announcing that both the Villa and
Carranza forces were looting the prop
erty of an American citizen named
Ochner at Colima. One of the messages
added:
"Carranza guarantees futile. His
orders for protection of rights and
property of foreigners largely ignored.
II is clear that neither high officials
nor subordinates, military officers. can
enforce orders even if sincere in desire
to protect foreigners. The situation
now is entirely one of local issue and
graft affecting and concerning the
local military leader only"
Persons fleeing from Mexico City, the
reports said. confirm all the reports
Of desperate situation. and agree in
fear of demands on foreigners and re-
prisals il supply of corn for populace
should fail"
Looting Stores.
Ar HermosilJa Sonora according TO mail
advices received today. there is a ter
rible state of affairs. and there are fears
that the looting of whole town Is only
postponed. May 20. this report declared.
a Chinese store was looted. and within
twenty minutes it's stock, worth $4,000.
was gone. American Consul Hostetter
finally succeeded in saving the Chinaman
and his family. The report added that
the Chinese are always the first to suffer.
and that Mexican troops and officers as
sisted in the looting at two stores"
State Department advices said direct
telegraphic service had been resumed be-
tween Monterey and Laredo.
Eliseo Arredondo. head Of the Carranza
agency. gave out a statement. saying:
II am directed by Mr.. Carranza to say
that the scandal provoked in the press Of
the United States over the exaggerated
shortage Of foodstuffs in the City Of
Mexico has for its only source the violent
the capital called the international com
mittee-'
II am authorized by the constitution
alist government which I represent
here, to make an emphatic denial that
any forces OF Mr.. Carranza have inter
cepted the Importation of the 500 tons
of corn SO often alluded to in press re-
ports, and to say that this accusation
10 false, even though those interested
in giving II circulation may have sue
ceeded in inducing the Brazilian min
lister. in charge of American interests
in Mexico. to voice the same as au-
thentic.
reports Highly Exaggerated"
MY government furthermore directs
me to bring to the attention of the
American people that the description
of conditions in Mexico as sent to the
Department of State and to the press
is highly exaggerated, and I am d.
rected to call especial attention to the
fact that tho City Of Mexico is con-
trolled by the Zapatista forces and not
BY those of my government.
Gen. Carranza has ready 800, 900
bushels of corn for the relief Of Mexico
City. and the only reason he does not
send IL into the city in advance of his
troops is that II would fall into the
hands of the Zapatistas and be used to
feed his enemies without the slightest
chance of relieving the suffering of the