New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-10-05
Secretary Lane Unable to
Say What Conference
Has Done.
MONTHS FARLEY
DEVOID OF RESULTS
Commission Issues Blind
Statement About Days
Activity.
rr,or , san corr.,pOnd.n, ., m, rribuns.I

From q star Correspondent o. The Thbunel
Atlantic City, Oct. 4.-Why the Mex
ican-American commission, appointed
Jointly by President Wilson and Cen
ersl Carrsnza to settle Mexican prob
lens involving American life and prop
erty, is unable after a months session
to show definite results to-day was put
squarely up to Secretary Franklin X.
Lane, chairman Of the American
division Of the commission.
The question was put after the COM
mission had given out statement con-
tanning about 10 words, which was de-
clared to cover completely the entire
days work Of the mediators. The
statement, which contains only two
sentences, mystified the newspaper men
by its circumlocution and ambiguity.
They asked Secretary Lane what 1t
meant.
"What construction would you place
on it?" countered the Secretary,
scratching his head in apparent be-
wilderment over the verbal puzzle.
"What do you think ii means?"
"Just nothing at ALL" was the
answer.
The Secretary's countenance bright
ened and he smiled. He did not seem
dissatisfied with the Interpretation; at
any rate, he offered no better one
Subsequently he indicated that it might
be considered possible to throw some
light on the announcement little
later on.
Baffled, the correspondents set them
selves TO the task of extracting some
meaning from the tortuous terminol-
ogy.
Here is the statement:
1.-The morning session OF the Amer
lean and Mexican Joint Commission
was devoted to the presentation to the
Mexican commissioners by their Amer
lean colleagues of the importance of
giving consideration to certain ques-
tions which have a distinct interna-
tional bearing because of their effect
on the status and the rights of for
| eigners resident in Mexico and OF for
eigners who have invested their capital
in Mexican enterprises.
"The position taken by the American
Commission is that the satisfactory
solution of these questions is an inte-
grail and necessary part of general
programme, the purpose of which is to
assure TO Mexico the resumption OF her
normal position among the nations OF
the earth"
For four hours the correspondents
puzzled over the problem, trying to
extract from the document some idea
of what was being done toward putting
an end to border raids. For this pur-
pose was the commission appointed,
for this object, according to President
Wilson and General Carranza, are the
Mexican delegates in Atlantic City. No
announcement of any change of aim
has been made, and yet the vexatious
statement plainly stated that "the pur-
pose" is to assure to Mexico the re-
sumption of her normal position among
the nations of the earth.
Secretary Lane Silent.
In despair, the newspaper men again
waited on Secretary Lane tonight, in
the hope Of obtaining some clue TO the
puzzle The Secretary, however, sent
out word that he had nothing more
| to say.
The Secretary similarly refused to
/ talk to-day when the question as to
what tangible result has been achieved
by the commission since its delibeta-
items began.
HAS anything been done toward
| beneGtng Americans in Mexico?" he
was asked. "What are the achieve
ments of the samnl ssion to date?"
Mr.. Lane could make no statement.
And so tonight not only are the re-
suits achieved by the mediators an I'M
known quantity, but even the purpose
| OF the parley is in doubt.