New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-10-30
BlameS EN- ploye {;
Truth of Charge
Not Denied
ENVOY TO EXPLAIN
FACTS TO LANSING
Will Deny Responsibility
for Mexican Bureaus
Action

Washington, Oct. 29.-What promised
70 be new cause Of serious friction
between the United States and the de
facto government of Mexico apparently
was cleared tonight through formal re-
pudiation by Eliseo Arredondo, Mexi-
can Ambassador Designate, Of a state
ment issued here yesterday. under the
name of Luis Cabrera, assailing the
American government for permitting
aid to reach Villa and other bandits
from its side Of the border.
Mr.. Arredondo will go to the State
Department tomorrow with the expla-
nation that the statement was put out
by an employe Of the Mexican News
Bureau, the de facto governments
semi-official publicity agent without
the knowledge or consent of either the
embassy or Mr.. Cabrera. Department
officials said tonight this would be ac-
cepted and would be regarded as clos
ing the incident.
Will Repudiate Interview
While at the department, Mr.. Are
dondo says, on special instructions
from his government, he will deny also
the authenticity of what it is under
stood will purport to be quotations
from General Carranza, General Obre-
gon, the Mexican War Minister, and
General Pablo Gonzales, commander OF
the forces in Mexico City. rejecting
strong anti-American sentiments, which
are expected TO appear tomorrow IN
"The Outlook" Information reaching
the embassy recently concerning the
magazine article caused an exchange Of
messages with Mexico City and
brought the ambassador authority TO
repudiate them in advance.
Until word Of Mr.. Arredondo's ac-
tion and of Mr.. Cabrera's reputation
at New York came to them tonight the
heads of the State Department had
taken a most serious view Of the state
ment attributed to Cabrera, who, be-
sides being Carranza's Minister OF FL
nance, is chairman of the Mexican
group of the joint commission now sit
ting at Atlantic City.
Evil Consequences Feared
The general feeling was that if the
statement was authentic the usefulness
of the commission would be destroyed
and consequences of the most undesir-
able character might result.
How the statement originated has
been the subject of much speculation
and apparently has narrowed down to
a question of veracity between Mr. Ca
brera and the member of the news bu-
reau staff who gave 1t to the press
The bureau, set up some time ago with
G.. f. Weeks, formerly press censor
for the Carranza government at Mex
leo City. at its head, has been regarded
as the semi-official mouthpiece OF the
embassy.
The employe who issued yesterdays
statement was George F. Edmunds, pub
licity representative of the embassy
until the bureau was organized. Ed
munds asserts that the statement was
dictated to him at Atlantic City by Ca
brera, who authorized him to make IT
public. Weeks tonight telegraphed
Cabrera disclaiming responsibility for
the action.
The appearance Of the statement ere
ated CONSERVATION at the embassy. Mr..
Arredondo promptly had a telephone
conference with Mr.. Cabrera. Later he
explained that the bureau had prepared
and issued without authority the state
ment as result of remarks made by
Cabrera Friday to a representative OF
the bureau. He said Cabrera made no
unpleasant references to the American
government, and, moreover, was not ex-
pecting his remarks to be quoted.
Arredondo Quotes Cabrera
"They were speaking" said the am
bassador, "about the situation In gen
eral, and especially in Chihuahua, as
TO how Villa had been able to cause
such alarm. Mr.. Cabrera said, not for
publication and without expectation
that his remarks would be used:
"The American government could
helm us by increasing its vigilance to
nreyent ammunition from getting into
the hands of Villa. and by expelling
from the United States great num-
Der of Mexican refugees who are very
we'll known as enemies of the de facto
government in Mexico.
"This the American government
could do strictly within the province
of American neutrality laws"
Further than these remarks, II was
stated, there was no reference in any
part of Mr.. Cabrera's conversation TO
the United States government or It's
officers. -, ~,
"The public should be warned" Mr.
Arredondo added, "that many false
statements have appeared and will con,
tinue to be published in the United
States by enemies of the de facto. gov
ernment, whose purpose is to bring
about intervention in Mexico and
armed conflict between Mexico and the
United States"