Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-03-07
WILSON MAY CALL
ON POWERS TO AID
Mexico City Faces Starvation with
Outside Relief Barred and
Washington Worried.
CONDITIONS WORSE THAN EVER

WASHINGTON, March 6.--Presi-
dent Wilson was confronted tonight
with one Of the most serious and per-
picking developments that has ever
arisen in the Mexican situation.
Mexico City is on the verge of starva-
ton. General Obregon. the Carranza
commander, refuses to permit an in
ternational relief committee COM
posed of wealthy members Of the
foreign colony to succor the needy.
Mexico needs no foreign aid" the
general is reported to have said.
Must open stores.
All merchants VINO closed their
stores have been ordered to reopen
under threat of punishment. Three
hundred of them, all Mexicans, have
been imprisoned. The people of the
city are living in terror Of another
evacuation since Obregon has an
nounced that he will not prevent
looting or pillaging for food or
money.
The Brazilian, British, Spanish and
Italian ambassadors called separately at
the State department today bringing
pessimstic reports of the situation which
-cortesponded to reports already received
by the American government The for
eign diplomats suggested no solution.
Bryan sends Telegram.
Secretary Bryan announced that he had
sent an urgent telegram to American Con-
sui Silliman with instructions to lay the
situation earnestly before General Car
rama so that General Obregon might be
directed to accept the proffered aid of the
foreign residents Freight service is
suspended between Mexico City and Vera
Cruz. Transportation facilities for relief
purposes are being withheld by General
Obregon on the ground of military neces-
sty.
President Wilson was advised of all the
facts late today as revealed in official
messages and the reports from the for
eign ambassadors. Tonight the president
was reported to be studying the various
phases of the question closely Should
General Obregon continue to refuse out
side aid drastic measures might be neces-
sary in view of the foreign diplomats
More Terrible Than Ever.
The situation is described by them as
more intolerable than 1t ever has been
since revolutionary troubles began in the
southern republic Talk Of an allied ex-
petition similar to the one that went to
the relief of foreign legations at Pefting
during the Boxer uprising was again
heard IN official quarters. where it was
generally admitted that grave condition
of affairs had arisen.
For the present the outcome Of the
Geographic correspondence with General
Carranza will be awaited Hitherto he
has been reported as standing by all the
activities of General obregon, whose pur-
pose, according to official reports, seems
to be to force the lowes classes to en-
list in the carranza army or starve
An sorts of Wild runrors are afloat
lin Mexico City, due to the ineendiary
sutterances of General Oregon, who, In
newspaper interviews, has practically
sanctioned plumber for food.
Carranza Appealed To.
General Carranza has been asked by
the American government to- instruct
General Ogregon to take some measures
to protect lives and property Of &c reign
ers, in the event of an evacuation. The
people fear the water supply may be
shut OF and the electric light cables
may be cut, thus leaving the city in
darkness at night and permitting the ir-
responsible element to commit wanton
depredatfons.
Just why the 800 merchants were I'm
prisoned has not been revealed. They
were reported to have appealed to Obre-
gon for relief from a heavy tax, which
he imposed on them. Secretary Bryan
said that so far as the State department
had been advised, all the Mexican priests
arrested for failure to contribute funds
demanded by obregon, were still in
prison
The international relief committee,
which raised about 10000 pesos, was
not permitted to aid the poor. according
to official dispatches, because General
Obregon declined OF accept funds re-
stricted to any definite use. He desired
that the foreigners pay the tax. recently
levied, but revoked on representations
from foreign governments without ques-
tioning how IL would be used.
Must Accept Money.
The latest decree put into effect by
Obregon provides that all merchants not
only must open their places OF business
under threat of punishment but that any
person refusing to accept CarranEa fiat
money will he imprisoned.
Beyond saying that conditions were
much worse than they had ever been
in Mexico City, the various foreign diplo-
mats, who called at the State depart
ment, did not discuss the situation or
indicate the attitude OF their govern
ments. All of their ministers at Mexico
City have instructions to withdraw from
the capital at their own discretion, but
in the circumstances they are DESTROYS
of remaining so as 10 exert what in
fluence they can for the relief of the