The Washington herald., 1918-06-19
VARYING VIEWS
ABOUT MEXICO
Holland Cites Reports Not
All Favorable. to Car
ranza's Rule.

Various published reports of inter-
views with some Of the Mexican ed
itors who are now visiting In the
United States DO not agree fully with
statements privately made by some OF
those who have recently come from
Mexico to New York. There ~ no
disagreemtnt respecting the desire of
the plain people Of Mexico TO be as
sured Of q stable government, Of free
dom from revolutions. and OF oppor-
trnity to pursue their vocation with
out unjust interference.
But there does seem to be sotne dif-
ference Of opinion respecting the re-
lation Of the Carranza government to
fhe entire Mexican situation Some OF
the published reports have spoken OF
EarranZa and his administration in
fords Of eommendation and hope. On
the other hand some who are qualified
to speak of CarranEa and his govern
rnent do not hesitate to criticize him
and 1t and even go so far a. to say
that no permanent internal improve
ment can be established until Car
rama and his administration and
methods are eliminated. Views Of this
kind. however, are expressed private
". even confidentially, at least so far
as the identity OF those who give these
opinions Is concerned.
Property Conhseated.
In order to substantiate their opin-
ion Of Carranza and his methods va
rious incidents that have occurred
under his administration have been
spoken Of in detail For instance. a
Mexican citizen who Is a man Of in
tegrity and of influence said to .
warm personal friend in New York
that be could give one or two exam
pies which would best Illustrate Car
ranza's methods. He said that short
ly after Carranza had established
himself in Mexico City his adminis-
tration caused the property of many
citizens TO be confiscated.
The reason alleged for this action
waas that the citizens were not loyalty
supporting the CarranZa administra-
tion and were in secret league against
1t. This Mexican said that 152 houses
IN the heart of Mexico City had been
taken over by the CarranZa admins
tration. Everything in these house.
- was conhscated. There remained not
the slightest item of household fur
niture and jewels, family heirlooms,
silverware and other valuables were
seized.
These articles were collected, a vast
mass in all. and were sent to the
United States. A considerable part
Of this property was landed at Hous-
ton. Tex. and all of 1t was sold. Some
Of II commanded high prices. THE ag-
gregate money received for the sale
Of these commodities and for articles
taken from public buildings was, ac-
eerding to this man. approximately
s30.OOo,Oo0. What use was made of this
money after 1t reached Mexico City Is
unknown Very likely It was deposittd
in the Mexican treasury.
Then again, the Carranza admin
Istration has taktn over, according
to this informant. some of the best
restaurants and a moving picture
theater which IS said to be one Of
the best in the world.
In the OIL Region.
American and English capital to a
great extent operates under lease
eastern coast OF Mexico. This prop
erty is protected by a friendly Mex
lean who has a considerable num-
ber OF troops under his control For
this service the operating compan-
les pay satisfactory sum to the
Mexican officer. It is not regarded
as blackmail. 1t is looked upon as q
just payment for adequate service.
Great Britain relies to a consId-
erable extent for her oil supplies up
on these Mexican wells. If for any
cause the export OF oil from Mex
leo should be ended Great Britain
would be seriously embarrassed. The
apprehensions are strong that the
CaranLa administration is about to
make q serious attempt to over
throw the Mexican officer and the
little army which he controls. whose
services have so far been success
full in protecting the oil region. In
fact II is reported privately that
skirmishes have already begun be-
tween Carranza troops and those
under the command of the off1cer
who Is protecting the oil region.
Therefore it is surmised that the
CarranZa administration hopes by
the force of numbers to gain pos
session Of the oil territory. If that
were done. then the administration
would probably put an export tax
upon the oil so high as practically
to amount to an embargo upon the
export.
Reports Of this kind that have been
communicated by responsible Mexican
itizens to their friends in New York
end to increase the apprehension that
may be inevitable in order to pro-
tect English and American capital
invested in the oil region. to send to
those regions English and American
forces.
In some Of the published reports
the statement has been made that
there is no considerable German prop
agaRda or influence in Mexico. In
e.
Is privately said that the Carranza
administration has taken control Of
II the banks In Mexico City except
he one which Is controlled by Ger
IAN capital That has been left alone.
here has been no interference with
. business. Justly or unjustly Car
anza himself Is suspected Of leaning
itrongiy in sympathy toward Ger
any, while the great body Of the
exican citizens are not pro-German
many Of them, at heart at least.
being very friendly to France.
Undoubtedly President Wilson
has learned that some of the pub
lished statements are not in accord
with the privately expressed Views
respecting the conditions in Mexico.
But It Is admitted by all that the
brief address that President Wilson
made to the Mexican editors, which
VIII be widely circulated in Mexi-
co, will have great influence in
changing an opinion which has pre-
vailed, and, 1t is reported. has been
cultivated by friends Of carranza,
that the United States hopes that
conditions will be favorable by and
by for such Intervention as will
enable this country to secure the
control of the rich silver deposits
Of the oil fields and Of the cattle
ranches In northwestern Mexico