Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-07-14
ARMS FROM u. S.
KILL AMERICANS
Mexicans Getting Guns and
Ammunitions, Senator Borah
Says, Despite Embargo

Washington. jury IA. - American
bullets are used against american SOL
dlers seeking to preserve order in Mex
leo by the Carranzistas and Villistas
With the "connivance and consent" of
the Wilson administration. This was
the statement made by Senator Will
liam z. Borah, of Idaho, who was in
formed of the condition in Mexico by
an American citizen in a position to
know the facts.
u Despite the announcement of the
State Department that an embargo has
been placed on the shipment of arms
into Mexico since the Columbus raid
and the attack on American soldiers
at Carrizal, it is said that all the am
munitions and arms Mexico can buy
being sent into the stricken republic
by American manufacturers.
The killing of American citizens and
soldiers is attributed by Senator Bor-
ali directly to the policy of this Ad-
ministration in not placing an abso-
Lutte embargo on the supplies of war.
Senator Borah said, in an informal
discussion of conditions before he
consented to being quoted, that the
American soldiers on the border were
vigorously protesting against the con-
tinuation of the policy which make it
possible for Americans to be killed
while certain American manufacturers
reap a heavy profit from the sale of
ammunition and arms.
Will Bring Up Issue in Senate
Senator Borah has collected definite
information as to the situation. He
has evidence from the men who have
suffered from the use of American
bullets and is prepared to bring the
issue squarely home to the American
public and the Administration in a
-, -
President has full power to lay an
embargo on arms. but apparently, said
the Senator, has seen best not TO use
the power conferred upon him, at a
time most necessary for the safety of
American citizens.
DO you think there should be an
embargo the Senator was asked.
I certainly do, and nearly every
American who has studied the MeXi-
can problem thinks the same" he re-
Piled. The President said in his De-
troit speech, I will not serve the am
bition of those gentlemen, but I win
try TO serve the Americans, in so far
as intercourse with Mexico is concern
ed, by trying to serve Mexico itself.
What does that mean?
In March, 1912. Congress gave full
power to the President TO lay an en-
bargo on arms and munitions OF war
going into Mexico. President Taft
laid the embargo. President Wilson
in his address to Congress August 81.
1913, Endorsed this policy as the best
practice and custom of nations and
said he would continue it. He after
ward changed his mind and took off
the embargo in order to favor Villa,
with whom at that time we were CO.
operating. We ought to go back to
our first policy and adhere to it with
out change.
"On March l9, 1915. Villa attacked
Columbus, y. M. and within the next
week Pershing's expedition entered
Mexico in pursuit of Villa, whom we
were to have dead or alive
Large Munitions Shipments
On March IS a Ward Line steamer
from New York landed in the port of
Vera Cruz with 1.350,000 rounds of
soft-nosed cartridges to be delivered
to Carranza, together with other mu-
nitions of war.
"on April l thereafter another
Ward Line steamer from New York
unloaded at Vera Cruz l,S5O,OOO
rounds of soft-nosed cartridges and
other munitions or war for Carranza.
On May 3 thereafter another ship
ment OF war munitions was unloaded
at Vera Cruz for Carranza. Between
that time and the first of June another
shipment Of arms was unloaded al
Vera Cruz for Carranza. During all of
this time, and even later, large ship
ments of munitions of war have. by
permission of American authorities,
gone into Mexico over the border
These shipments were all permitted
after the massacres Of Santa Ysabel.
Columbus and Glenn Springs and af-
ter the Government had full knowl-
edge, according TO the express Ian
guage of the Lansing note, of the
treachery and duplicity of Carranza.
Here is the language Of the note after
reclting all the atrocities and outrages
with which we are more or less famil-
lar:
I am reluctant to be forced to the
conclusion that the de facto govern :
ment, in spite of the crimes commit
ted and the sinister designs of Villa
and his followers, did not and does NOT
now intend or desire that these out
laws should be captured, destroyed or
dispersed by American troops or at the
request of this Government by the
Mexican troops
No Reliance in Carranza
But even if Carranza could he re-
lied upon not to use the arms against
us-and every sensible man knows he
cannot-still the armed banditti of
Carranza of to-day may be the follow
ers OF villa tomorrow. The press dis
patches of this morning state that
and Joined Villa. They are all armed
with American arms and supplied with
American munitions of war by the
connivance and consent of this gov
ernment.
Let US suppose, further, that these
arms would not be used against our
own soldiers and against our own citi-
zens. Still we know that for two wears
the bandit soldiers have robbed and
looted from the starving Mexicans
every usable form of property for the
purpose of exchanging it for munitions
OF war, which are being supplied 10
them by the consent of our govern
ment.
we have known for two years that
all the arms and ammunition with
which the Mexicans are numbering one
another and with which they have
murdered and assassinated our owr
people have been furnished by Ameri.
can manufacturing establishments
with the consent of our government.
There is a plan now, IT is said. tc
furnish money to Mexican bandits
particularly Carranza, if he lasts lone
enough to receive it. Unless our gov.
ernment itself sees to the application
Of