The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1917-03-01

tiles with being German intelligence
agents.
Last of all, it. seems to show con-
| nection with General Carranza's re-
cent proposal to reutrals that exports
of food and munitions to the Entente
Allies be cut off, and an intimatlon
that he might sop the supply Of OIL
so vital to the British, Navy. which
is exported from the Tampico fields.
Such proposal as Germany in
| structed her Minister to make to
Mexico borders on an act of war If,
actually, it is not cue.
/ No doubt exists here now that the
persistent reports during the last two
years Of the operations of German
agents not alone in Mexico, but all
through Central America and the
West Indies are based ON. fact. There
is now. no doubt whatever that the
proposed alliance with Mexico was
known to high Mexican officials who
are distinguished for their anu-Amer-
icanis1n Among them are Rafael
Zubaran, Carranza's minister to Ger
many, and Luis Cabrera, Carranza' 8
minister of finance.
1t is apparent that the proposal had
taken definite form when Zubaran re-
turned to Mexico. City from Berlin re-
GENTLY His return from his foreign
post was covered by the fact that
Canranza had called in many of his
diplomats for conferences
Some time before that, Cabrera,
while still at Atlantic City in the con-
ferences of the American Mexican
Joint Commission, had suggested in a
guarded way to member of the
American section, that he regretted
that the commission had not succeeded
fully in settling the difficulties be-
tween Mexico and the United States.
For he said, he had hoped it might
continue its work and make peace for
the world. 70
When pressed for some details of
how the commission could restore
world peace, Cabrera suggested that
the AMERICAN republics controlled the
destiny Of the war by controlling a
large part of it's supplies. Mexico, he
intimated. might do her part by cut
ting off exports of oil. The American
comm issioners dismissed his ideas as
visionary.
Almost coincident with Zubaran's
return from Germany, Cabrera re-
| turned to Mexico City, open in his ex-
baran, before being sent abroad, had
represented General Carranza here
while the Niagara Mediation Confer
'ences were proceeding and was no
less avowedly anti-American than
Cabrera.
Meanwhile, Baron Won Schoen, Sec
retary Of the German Embassy here,
was transferredsto the Legation In
Mexico City No explanation could
lbe Obtained Of the reason for his
transfer, and such investigation as
was possible failed to develop why a
should be sent to the German Lega-
ton In Mexico
/ Baron Won Schoen's association with
the moves. Il any at all, does not ap.
pear The only outward indication
that he might have been connected
with them is found in the fact that
he recently had been detached from
the German En- bassy in Toxic and
was well acquainted with the Japa-
nese Minister in Mexico City.
Carranza's peace proposal was
openly pronounced by officials here
an evidence of German Influence in
Mexico, who declared it was intended
only to EN- barrass the United States.
Then apparently, some Influences
showed their effect on the course of
the Mexican government, and on
Feb. 25, Cabrera, the Minister of FL
nance, issued a statement describing
the Amusement" of the Mexican gov
eminent that the American news
papers should have interpreted Gen
eral Carranza's proposal to- cut off ex-
ports of munitions as a suggestion
that he might cut off shipments of
British Oil. They were, Cabrera de-
clared, entirely groundless," and that
was an intimation that Germany S
feature Of the situation ended. There
astounding proposal that Japan turn
traitor to her allies had been answer
ed by Toxic.
Count Won Bernsterff's connection
with the plot, further than serving as
the channel Of communication, is in
tensified by the fact that the German
Embassy here was not merely the
medium Of delivering message in
this instance, but was really a sort of
Headquarters for all the German mis-
sions in Central and South America.
The German Naval Attache, Cap
tain Boy-Ed and the Military At
tache, Captain Won Papen, whose re-
call was forced by the State Depart
ment because Of their military activ-
tiles in this country, also were ac-
credited to Mexico, and between the
outbreak of the war and their de-
parture from this country made at
least one visit there
For months many naval officers
here have believed that the mysteri
Gus German sea raiders of the South
Atlantic must have found a base
somewhere on the Mexican coast, and
that such base could not be main
tanned without the knowledge and
consent of Mexican officials. Last
November the British Charge at
Mexico City presented to the Car
rama Foreign Office a notification
that if it was discovered that Mex
lean neutrality thus had been violat-
ed the Allies would take drastic
measures to prevent a continuation
Of that situation.
In a note almost insolent in tone,
Foreign Minister Aguilar replied to
the charge that, in effect, it was the
business of the Allies to keep German
submarines out of western waters,
and that if they were not kept out,
Mexico would adopt whatever course
the circumstances might commend.
To German influences also have
been attributed in some quarters the
vigorous steps taken by the de facto
the Banco Nacional and the Bank Of
T I~rr ,,I,