The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-04-26
CARRAtzA IS FRIENDLY
CONTINUED from First Page.)

CAkkANLA u tkltNUlI
CONTINUED from First Page)
of the castle, where they had been dis
posing OF some of the enormous bur
den OF official business which now
presses him.
Summing up the position and in
tentions of the Mexican government
towards the United States in the
present war. the general answered
solemnly:
Mexico VIII BE Neutral.
Il have declared the neutrality of
Mexico In the present German Amer
lean conflict and / shall do everything
IN my power to maintain that neu
trallty."
What steps is your government
taking to prevent subjects of bellig-
erent countries from compromising on
Mexican territory or waters the neu-
trality you have declared?' was asked.
up to the present I have not be-
lieved 1t necessary TO take any steps"
he replied.
The president-elect would go no
further into details as to what plans
are being formulated to enforce the
neutrality or to what extent Germans
would be restricted in anti-American
activities In Mexico. He expected,
however. that these restrictions would
be more explicitly defined when he
issues his formal neutrality proclama-
ton.
Mexico is doing it's best to end the
| internal war. It certainly does not
want to begin an external one in
which it has no direct concern"
This is the gist OF the Mexican view
point, Replying to a question as to
whether the presence of many Ger
mans or the attitude of certain Of the
Mexican press might not interfere
with his efforts to maintain neutrality,
the general said:
Few Germans In Mexico.
There are very few German resi-
dents in Mexico. and there exists no
active German propaganda. The
Mexican papers conf1ne themselves to
the publication of cable dispatches,
modifying in favor of the allies or
, the central powers. according to their
particular sympathies."
| Just how many Germans are now
in Mexico, General Carranza would
not undertake to estimate, saying he
had no exact information on the sub
( ject. He indicated. however, that he
believed the number had geen great
" overestimated in the United States.
Inquiry In various quarters bears
! out this view. One prominent An1eri
can official, whose business ia to he
! informed about the movements of the
Germans in Mexico. declared today
that from what could he learned there
are now less than 5000 Teuton sub
! 3ects in the entire republic. Reports
! that Germans are pouring into Mexico
from Guatemala are specifically de-
MED today by the Mexican consul
/ general at Guatemala City. who is
| here on official business. 1t Is other
anti American plotting by Germans
south OF the border that is anticipat
4 ed such as intrigues, formed by hos
tile action by Mexican groups, the
secret esta blishment of bases for Ger
man submarines in Mexican waters,
the operations of wireless stations or
other agencies assistance for German
sea operations against the United
States.
Several questions were asked the
general regarding the presence of
Japanese and their activities in Mex.
leo. He declined to answer. for dip
lomatic reasons, hut members OF his
staff declared that Japanese activi-
ties in Mexico at this time were not
menacing or even alarming.
General Carranza was asked
Have you received any proposal,
official or unofficial. from any foreign
power contemplating the entry OF
Mexico into any hostile enterprise
or alliance against the United States
other than the Zimmerman note. and
would any such proposal be enter
tanned by your government"
This was General Carranza's only
and exact answer:
II have received no proposition In
this respect"
Thus the last part OF the question
was left unanswered
One OF the chief desires Of the Mexi-
can government Is to have President
Wilson raise an embargo ON shipment
OF arms and ammunition into Mexico
from the United States.
The government OF Mexico will not
ask the American government to raise
the embargo In view OF its former re-
fusal." said General Carranza.
Taking into consideration the fact
that the differences between the two
countries had disappeared and that
diplomatic relations were restored, such
permission was asked and refused
Mexico will try to obtain munitions OF
war In some other country. II II should
prove that production of her own mill
tary establishments are not suffiS dsl
for her necessities. BY virtue of the
embargo. Mexico is hindered in the
United States from acquiring the ma
teriai needed for the manufacture of
munitions. The Mexico government
was able to acquire only one cartridge
plant in the United States. We were
then compelled to obtain In Japan an
other munition plant and = Second for
the manufacture Of powder. and We
shall continue to acquire all we need
for our army from wherever the goy-
ernmeht Of Mexico may - ahAs 70 So
sure AZ,