New-York tribune., 1917-06-02
Lansing Denies
u. S. Has Made
Loan to Mexico
No Such Plan Has Been
Discussed with Bankers
or Carranza Agents
Protest Brings Denial
Boston Representative Ready
TO Attack Policy of Aiding
Neighboring Government
Protest Brings Denial

washington, JuHe l. ScSASNA'I
State Lansing. in letter to Represent
ative George Holden Tinkham, OF Mas
sachusetts, to-day said the matter OF a
loan 10 Mexico had not been discussed
in the State Department.
Secretary Lansing's letter was in
reply 10 one in which it was stated that
current report credited n loan Of from
s5O,OOO,OOO to sIOO,OOO,OOO to the Car
rama government.
The Boston member deplored such
possibility "most profoundly" adding
that, while realizing that "this is mat
ter about which the Congress probably
will not be consulted" he hoped that
"the legislative branch Of the govern
ment may receive an intimation Of the
policy to be followed and the reasons
determining its adoption"
Accompanying Mr.. Tinkham's letter
we're excerpts from the new Mexican
constitution. quoted to substantiate his
belief that the making or encouraging
Of such a loan "would simply mean
that the United States had at last re-
conciled itself 20 indorse programme
of social. economic and religious per-
secution forced upon nelghoorly peo-
pie. which it is unthinka6le wou4u Oe
proposed or tolerated at home
Hopes Report Is GroundieSs
Mr.. Tinkham, In his letter to Secre-
aTho gravity Of the situation in
Mexico is so great that l am led TO
speak with unreserved frankness ana
earnestness. ! sincerely trust that
the report is wholly without basis, as
indeed one would expect If one consld-
cred only what has been the attitude
of the de jure government Of Mexico
toward the policy Of this government,
and what President Wilson felt con-
strained TO say to the Mexican Ambas-
sador at the time of his official recep-
ton. April II. as given by the oihclal
Mexican organ in the United States,
The Mexican Review May, 1917.
did it appear, however that the
executive was really considering the
matter. should deplore the fact most
profoundly Nothing in the eXigencies
of the tremendous war in which we
have engaged nor in the long and lofty
course of our foreign relations can be
found for q transaction Of this char
acter.
1--WE cannot forswear our traditions
BY sealing the closest possible bond
with a government deliberately dedl-
Gated 20 a programme that is wholly
repugnant to the principles and insti-
tutions of the American people.
great government loan TO the govern
ment OF Mexico IS now constituted, or
II r-a =. Nr,~ i
10 the Mexican government in securing
such a loan from United States bank
ers. would simply mean that the
United States had at last reconciled
itself 20 indorse a programme of So
cial, economic and religious persecu-
tion forced upon a neighborly people,
which il is unthinkable would be pro-
posed or tolerated at home
Says 1t Is Incredible
"T cannot square with the apparent
ly high purposes of the President, nor
with the historic programme of the
nation. any attempt TO consolidate or
finance a government cynically frank
in the declaration Of its purpose to eX-
terminate the foreign investor. the
agricultural land owner and the Chris
tian Church Of all denominations. All
the more is this incredible in view of
the report that the Department Of
State has urged certain American in
vestors not 20 waive their rights Of
appeal 10 their own government, as in
sisted upon by the new Mexican con-
stitution, Article p. Part l."
Mr.. Lansing's reply follows:
81 am in receipt of your letter rela-
tive 70 loan 70 the Mexican govern
ment and beg TO inform you that the
matter has not been a subject Of dis
eussion with this department by any
representative Of the Mexican govern
ment or by any person or persons hav-
Ing in contemplation the making Of
such q loan"