Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-02-18
Early Action by Senate Ex-
pected on Nomination as
Ambassador to Mexico.
SENATOR FALL CONDEMNS
'CUTTLEFISH DIPLOMACY
Disappointed in Presidents Report
of Conditions Preceding Car
rama Regime.

Renewed discussion of the
Mexican situation in the Senate
and quick vote on the nomlna-
ton of Henry Prather Fletcher
as ambassador to Mexico were
forecast today as result of
President Wilson's response to a
Senate resolution calling for, the
facts leading up to the recogni-
ton by the United States of the
dc facto government in Mexico,
headed by Venustiano Carranza.
The Presidents reply was sub
mitted in letter from Secretary
Lansing summarizing conditions
which preceded recognition of
Carranza. 1t gave list of sew
enty-six Americans who lost
their lives in Mexico in the years
1918. 1914 and 1915. In addition
it showed that twenty civilian
americans in those three years
and sixteen soldiers were killed
on American soil as the result of
Mexican troubles.
Secretary Lansing. in his letter. said
hot to tk> +
Carranza government. it was affording
reasonably adequate protection to the
lives and property of Americans
Senator Fall Disappointed.
Senator Fall. author of the resolution,
today expressed disappointment that
the President did not include officia,
reports on political conditions and
events in Mexico called for in his reso-
luton. The President held il to be in
compatible with public interests to
divulge correspondents of a highly
Senator Fall said that he thought he
would be a6aa to supply the Senate
with some OF the missing links" in
the circumstances which led up to
ernment.
II will study the report before I
undertake to do anything" said Sen
ator Fall. But / know enough of the
report already to declare that my pur-
pose in calling upon the administration
for information regarding the reasons
for recognition of the Carranza gov
ernment was justified. The report
makes it apparent that there was no
earthly reason for such recognition.
THE fact that political correspondence
was withheld from the American peo
pie demonstrates that there was some
YQcnRntfinn {ct,
ieIl like a bombshell in Mexico and the
United States.
Scores "cuttlefsh Diplomacy"
Il cannot understand why the Ameri-
can public is still kept in the dark
object seriously to this cuttleflsh di-
plomacy of the administration, this
throwing out lot of ink to conceal its
movements
The Senate foreign relations COM
mittee is expected to meet Wednesday
TO take UP Mr.. Fletcher's nomination
Action onrthe nomination had been de-
layed by republicans pending the re-
ceipt of the Presidents response con-
tending that it would show there was
no responsible government in Mexico
The President, through Mr.. Lansing,
declined to comply with that part Of
the Fall resolution asking for diplo-
matte and consular reports on political
ooHoItiohs ana events In Mexico. The
Senate was informed that it was not
compatible with public interests to
furnish this correspondence.
Reasons for Recognition.
The line Of reasoning which led the
psn-American conferees to decide upoa
the recognition Of Gen. Carranza's gov
srnment as the de facto government in
Mexico last fall is given in the letter
OF secretary Lansing. as follows:
The attempt to bring the factions
together Tor a conference failed. SUBJ
stantially all the commanders and
others in authority who were associ-
2ted with Gen. Villa replied directly
and Independently in varied language
accepting the suggestion for a confer
ence. On the other hand, all the COM
manders and others in authority v,ho
were affiliated with Gen Carranza re-
pied briefly to the effect that the an
peal had been referred to Cen or
rama, whose superior authority they
-Acsno~ledged and who would make
such reply az he deemed proper The
inference to be drawn was plain. on
the one hand there seemed TO he M
central organization among the yiI1is,o
FORCES. while on the other hand submis-
sion 10 a central authority was eyj-
denced in the replies of the carran-
zistas. "
The unity and loyalty of the Car
ranzistas appeared to Indicate the uIti-
mate triumph of that faction esneciauv
as the Carranzista forces were then in
control OF approximately rs per cent ~
the territory of Mexico AccordinpIv
the conferees. after careful and fmn.r
tai consideration of all the circu,n :
stances. decided unanimously to recon- :
mend severally to their respective gov
ernments that in their opinion the GOV
ernment of which Gen Carranza w,s
the leader should be recognized as ths
de facto government Of Mexico"
Ability to Protect Americans.
Regarding the ability of the Carrsnz.
government to give protection In
Americans and other foreigners in Mex.
leo. Mr. Lansing's letter said:
"As to the ability of the de fsc,o
government TO fulfill its promises TO
protect lives and properties along the
border the undersigned has the honor
TO call your attention to the fact that
since assurances in this respect were
given TO this government by the de
facto government the disturbances
= along the border have in large meas
ure ceased.
In this connection copy of letter
from the Secretary of War, dated Feb
ruary 10. 1916. and copies of weekly
reports for the weeks ending January
CONTINUED on Second Page)