The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-08-23
DECLARE MEXICO
 IS ENCOURAGING JAPAN 0VERTURES

1Hlh 1tIv V AtR VElAS New York, Aug. 23.-"The reports circulated recently to the effect that Japanese have been trying to gain a foothold in Mexico, and that they have practically sought to make an ally of the Mexican government, are not with out good good foundation. It cannot be denied that the Mexican govern ment has encouraged rather than dis couraged the advances made by the Japanese. And yet, anomalous as the position may appear at first glance, the Mexican fears the motives, of the Japanese even more than does any of that American grour which sees men ace to America in every move made by the little Oriental empire"
 This statement was made yesterday by Canadian who has wed in Mex 1co for Is years, and has just arrived In New York on short vacation. For number of years he has represented American newspapers in Mexico City. and his personal acquaintance with Venustiano Carranza, the head of the de facto government, and Alvaro Ob- regon, it's war minister, has been so intimate and long standing that his dispatches have often been referred to as coming from "an inspired source." He toured Mexico as a member of Carranza's private party last year, and has travelled ocer a considerable part of the country in Obregon's pri- vate car. His statements regarding the attitude of the men at the head of the de facto government of Mexico to- ward the Japanese can be considered as unofficially authentic.
 The present government of Mexico fels secure in it's position, and it's lead CTS have no longer any fear of being overthrown by revolutionists,' he said.
 They are now trying to look ahead. And, although no overtures whatever have been made to Washington on the SUI ubJeGt up to this time, I am in a po- sition to state that, instead of wishing to antagonize the American govern ment, the present Mexican govern ment would like to unite with the government of the United States in an offensive and defensive alliance.
 Fears to Show Real Attitude.
 The reason Mexico has not been able during the recent past to show her real attitude toward any foreign government that has made overtures to her has been that she felt she could not afford to alienate any possible friendships whatever. She has been badly in need Inf friends, even though she knew their motives in befriending her, or suspected that at the bottom they were really founded on secret hostility of the foreign government to the United States.
 When war between the United States and Mexico seemed imminent it was reported that Japan had of- fered material aid to the Mexican government in the event that such 8 war should be brought about With out going into the question of the na- ture of this offer, it can be said that at that time Mexico couldn't afford to turn down any offer of help
 Looking into the future, the pres ent rulers of Mexico fear that if the United States becomes emhroiled with any powerful nation Mexico would be the battlefield on which the war would be largely fought, and would be more helpless even than Belgium was in the present European war, for Mexico has none of the great for tresses that Belgium had to with hold an army while she whipped her own army into fighting shape. The
 
 now convinced that. with Americas increased navy and the results of her present preparedness program, a for eign power attacking the United States would without much formality decide that the easiest way to strike America would be through the back door of the United States through Mexico. Mexico's ports are not for ffo6 run directly to the American border.
 Mexico has only a small army, judged by the standards established by the present European war, and judged by the same standards it Is miserably equipped. And so her off, cials know that she would be practi- cally helpless to repulse any consider able foreign army that elected to tramp across Mexico to reach the United States.
 About the only thing we could do in such a case,' a Mexican army off, cial said to me just before l left for | the United States, would be to dyna- mite our railroad bridge and trust to | God "The Government of Mexico, I can l state at present, would be ready to go | farther than a mere treaty with the | United States. It would be ready-if | the United States were to make the f suggestion-to make an agreement l whereby the United States would ac- tually unite with the Mexican gov | ernment in fortifying the strategically | important ports of Mexico, so that an invading force could be held off at | least temporarily, and the Govern ment would be wiling to make an agreement wherby American forces should be given ready access to Mex ican territory, in case of such a war, to meet an invading force at the ports instead of awaiting it's arrival at the American border.
 Alliance With America.
 "In other words, a suggestion of an alliance without any reservations on Mexicos part would be very welcome to the Mexican government at the present time. I don't think 1t prob able that the Mexican government will make any overtures along these lines; ! it would want any such suggestion to come originally from this country, and the officials who approve such a plan realize that it would meet with no small degree of opposition among the 'Gringo hater' class in Mexico, but they felt convinced that this opposi- ton would die out after a short time and that such an agreement would