The sun., 1917-12-07
DIAZ MENACES
CARRANZA RULE
Leads PrO-Ally Revolutionary
Movement Against First
Chief.
NEW CRISIS IN MEXICO
No Sign Wilson Will Change
Attitude, Despite Germans
AScendency There.
NEW CRISIS IN MEXICO

Special De.pd,cA to tn. sus.
WASHINGTON. Dec. g. Advlces re-
ceived in Latin American diplomatic CIR
cles Indicate that the situation in Mexico
Is drifting toward another crisis.
The veil Of secrecy which has some-
what shrouded latest developments has
been lifted to show that First Chief Car
ran.a is apparently losing his grip de-
spite efforts of German agitators to
strengthen him. and that a strong pro-
Ally revolutionary movement is gaining
momentum under the leadership Of Felix
Diaz.
Latest reports received here purport
to give the present location Of Felix Diax
In Mexico. They present estimates Of the
forces he can control and refer to offers
Of financial backing. with arrangements
to assist him in every way when the
time is ripe. At lesR one Of the South
American Governments regards this
move as likely to have a decisive effect
on the Mexican situation in the near fu-
ture.
Diaa Embraces Entente Cause.
Felix Diaz appears to have embraced
the cause Of the United States and the
Entente as matter of expediency in his
campaign to undermine Carran1a's con-
troll. He counts on the support Of the
British because OF the perpetual threats
against the British oil supplies at Tam
pico which come from German inspired
sources in Mexico. and he is said to
count nm 10 nj IN
! dent Wilson.
There is no Justification whatever at
this time for assuming that President
Wilson will countenance any support for
movement directed at the constituted
Government Of Mexico under First Chief
Carranza. Reports that Germans are in.
fiuencing Carranza's present policy OF
that the German Legation in Mexico city
! Is virtually dominating Carranza's AZ.
tions have reached here. but no far al
known they have not affected the United
States Government's attitude toward
Mexico
The most reliable information here 1,
that Carranza Is not pro-German in IN,
sense of backing the German cause O,
wishing to help Germany in any way
But he Is pro-neutral. and apparently /.
not averse to permitting Germans anc
pro-Germans to rally around his stand
/ dTu OF neutrality.
One report Is that Carranza thinks n,
is using the Germans for his own pur
poses, but the consensus here Is that tn,
Germans really are using him to furthe
their propaganda schemes and to max,
trouble wherever they can.
Banditlng Rules Along Border.
The first thought of Mexican revolu
| tionists always has been How can W,
! gain support from the United States :?
Formerly II was financial support an,
rifles. but new 1t is political or mora
support that IL sought The friendlines
Of the pro-Germans for Carranza has le,
to the assumption that a revolutionar!
leader could capitalize pro-ally sentimen
at this stage Apparently Felix Diaz l.
I following this plan.
The situation in Mexico Is undoubtedl,
bad. Bandit activity on the border 4.
rampant again. and the failure of tn
corn crop has added to MexIco's woes
German Intrigue Is making matters din
| cult for Americans and others in Mexico
and there Is no announcement offere,
here for Americans to go to Mexico a
this time.
| The President Is believed to be adher
ing to his policy of patience and unself
ishness with regard to Mexico In genera
and Carranza in particular
Unless Germans succeed In persuadini
| Carranza to overstep all bounds there 4
little likelihood that the United State
will depart from its policy of assisting
him to maintain law and order and L
put his Government on a beneficial foot
ing in every practical way.