New-York tribune., 1918-05-27
Repressive Acts
ByU.S.Causeof
Mexico S Break
Capital Thinks Steps Taken
to Check Teuton Agents
Irritate Carranza
Special Dispatch to The Trtbune)

Especial Dispatch to The Trtbune)
WASHINGTON, May 26.-Restrictive
measures imposed on Mexico by the
United States and the Entente to block
and counteract German activity in Cen
tral and South America were the cause
of the diplomatic break between Mexico
and Cuba. according to prominent Gu
bans here who profess to know the
present temper of the Carranza gov
ernment.
The break in relations announced by
Mexico City is considered generally
here a slap at the United States. In
support of this view it is being pointed
out that General Candido Aguilar,
Mexican Minister of Foreign Affairs,
in his formal note announcing the
break. refers to Cuba as being "now
in an afflicted situation" This refer
ence is interpreted as a criticism of
the present close alliance between Cuba
and the United States.
Fabela Affair an Incident
The so-called Fabela affair is be-
lieved to be only an incident, though it
is known Mexico City was much ex-
ercised about this affair. While it has
been publicly announced that the lug
gage of Ysidro Fabela, the Mexican
Minister to Argentina and Chile, was
stolen in Havana, it is held in Mexico
City, according to reports reaching
Washington, that Fabela's baggage was
seized and searched by agents of the
Entente and the United States.
If this was the case, it is thought
the action was taken because the En-
tente secret service believed that the
German Ambassador at Mexico City
was employing Fabela to transmit COM
munications to the German diplomatic
representatives in the Argentine.
One of the repressive measures i'm
posed by the United States on Mexico
which is said to be particularly irritat-
ing to that nation is the virtual CEN
eorship Of all Mexican mails to Spain
The United States will not provide
bunker coal for Spanish vessels beyond
Havana, and, in consequence, Mexican
Spanish mails are transmitted via
American Ward liners from Mexico to
Havana.
This enables representatives of the
United States to enforce censorship
of mails from Vera Cruz and Tampico
to Cadiz, Spain Before the United
States took this action, it is reported,
the Entente registered repeated pro-
tests that German agents in the United
States and in Mexico were communi-
eating without hindrance with Berlin
via the Spanish liners sailing from
Havana.
The embargo declared on Cuban
sugar to Mexico is said to be further
irritant contributing to the present
strain which found expression in the
Cuban break There is little reason to
support complaints on this situation,
however. because the Mexican govern
ment could negotiate arrangements
with the War Trade Board to provide
sugar supplies adequate for her mini
mum needs, it is pointed out.
Carranza Fears for Prestige
Carranza does not like to negotiate
with the United States, however. it is
said, because such action would cost
him prestige with those influences in
Central and South American, to which
he has sought to play oracle. This
desire on the part Of Carranza to as
sumo leadership in Latin-America is
said to have had not little to do with
his recent Cuban action, it being a
feeler to determine the support he can
command if he elects to take further
action along the same lines.
Inquiries made regarding the diplo.
matte background Of Aguilar, Mexican
Minister for Foreign Affairs, in an ef-
fort to throw light on the recent un-
precedentcd Mexican diplomatic action.
to-day disclosed that Aguilar. before he
became Minister for Foreign Affairs
at Mexico City, was foreman Of q
dairy at Orizaba, in the State Of Vera
Sssn Srus r.AarSsss AmSSns Msxie.ns s,.As As1lar has
dinary individual, who possessed few
attainments which commended him for
the important post he now holds
through his close friendship with Car