New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-11-29
Tumulty Says Records Fail
to Disclose Barbarity
Toward Nuns.
JESUIT THINKS
REPORTS TRUE
Says Evidence Proves orgy OF
Lust and Murder" Has Been
Sweeping Over Mexico.
firm rr-eun. Bur.su ]

Washington, Nov. 2S.-Criticism Of
the administrator Mexican policy and
its attitude toward the Roman Catho-
lie Church was answered to-day By Jo-
seph p TGmulty, secretary TO the Presi-
dent In a letter TO DR.. James j. Nc
Guirc, Of Trenton, Mr.. Tumulty replies
20 charges that priests and nuns in
Mexico have been mistreated, saying
that careful investigation by the State
Department has failed to substantiate
the allegations.
The administration believes that
there have been outrages committed
from time 10 time by Carranza soldiers
but that these are for the most pSrt
recrettablo incidents common 70 all
wars. Even the American Revolution,
Mr.. Tumulty points out, had its un-
happy side; yet in q comparatively
short time, as history measures time
the people generally came to realize
that, after all, perhaps It was for the
best" The letter comes nearer than
any previous White House document to
defining tho policy Of the administra-
ton in Mexico.
When the administration assumed Of
fee, the letter says, Mexican affairs were
in n deplorable state. Theneed OF reforms
was evident The administration. Mr..
Tumulty says, mindful Of the unhap-
piness and loss caused by and follow
ing any war, has done all In tie power
TO keep this nation from that calamity.
Had the government listened to GER
tain class Of Americans in Mexico this
country would long since have sent its
armies across the border, with what
results. IN times like these, no one can
predict"
Conditions in Mexico, instead OF
growing better, as the administration
had hoped. grew increasingly worse.
After waiting one year after Huerta's
withdrawal for the divided revolution
lists TO reunite and restore order, the
six ranking Latin-Ameriean diplomats
in Washington were sounded and found
ready 10 assist IN solving the problem.
The result was the appeal for peace
conference. signed by Secretary Ian
sing and the six Latin-American en-
VOWS. and sent broadcast to military
and civil authorities in bot the Car
rama and villa factions.
The State Department was disappoint-
cd that the peace congress proposal had
been so adroitly turned down by Car
rama. II had been hoped 70 fatter the
vanity Of the individual leaders and
lead them 10 complete plan without
consulting Carranza. whose prestige
would thus be weakened and his party
divided. Secretary Tumulty, however,
writing almost four months later, in
terprets these facts differently.
"On the one hand he says, there
seemed to be no organization, while on
the other hand unity and harmony
we're evident. Such discipline looked
encouraging for MeXico's salvation,
and the conferees, after careful and
impartial consideration Of all the facts,
decided unanimously to recommend TO
their respective governments that the
government Of which General Carranza
was the leader ought TO be recognized
as the dc facto government Of Mexico
It is interesting to note that the Latin
American countries joining in the con-
ferences and in the recognition are all
Of them Catholic countries"
Mr.. Tumulty inclosed copies Of the
correspondence between ex-Secretary
Bryan and Father Francis c. Kelley, or
Chicago. president OF the Catholic
Church Extension Society, when Mr..
BRYAN revealed the extent TO which the
administration had gone TO protect
church interests In Mexico.
The Rev. Father Richard II. Tierney
made public yesterday his reply to Sec
rotary Tumulty's letter, which will ap-
near in America" Jesuit publica-
ton. on December 4. Father Tierney
was chairman OF the committee of the
National Convention Of the American
Federation of Catholic Societies that
called on President Wilson and Secre-
tary Lansing TO protest against the al
legged Mexican outrages.
sThe inquiry" Father Tlerney de-
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