The sun., 1919-07-30
DEMANDS TRUTH OF
MEXICAN SITUATION
Representative Gould Says
State Department Persistently
Withholds the Facts.
CURB PUT ON FLETCHER
New York Member Charges
That Carranza Government
Is Distinctly Hostile.

Special DespdtcH 70 ihh SUN
WAsHrroroN, July 2s.--Charges that
the State Department "is spreading
veil of secrecy over the Mexican situa-
ton" were made in a statement to-day
by Representative Gould IN. ", urging
that the House begin an investigation
at once to get the facts about Govern
ment activities and conditions in Mexico.
Referring to the recent testimony OF
Henry p. Fletcher, American Ambassa-
dor to Mexico, before the House Rules
Committee, Mr.. Gould said "it Is very
clear that Mr.. Fletcher himself was not
permitted to penetrate this veil OF Sc
crecy with which the State Department
has persistently clouded the Mexican
problem.
Mr., Fletcher" Mr.. Gould said, per
formed his duties in Mexico, whether
by express direction or not. with his
eyes closed and his ears stopped except
to the official representations OF the
Carranxa Government Although Mr..
Fletcher was questioned by the commit
tee with every consideration for his
diplomatic position and in fine spirit
of non-partisanship 1t Is impossible to
escape the conclusion that he was not
willing to put the cards on the table for
the State Department"
Rule by Armed Force.
Mr.. Gould then stated that the fol.
lowing conclusions are unacceptable afteI
a careful reading of Mr.. Fletcher's tes-
timony and in the light OF facts gen
| orally known:
| "Carranza and his Government were
placed in power by less than per cent
| of the DOpulation of Mexico.
"The so-called State Governments o
Mexico are elected only in such in
stances as the result of an election
conforms to Carransa's ambitions.
'-That the rule OF Carranza over sucf
| portions of Mexico as are under his con
troll is the rule of a small armed fore
over an unarmed territory; that Mexico
submits with a gun at its head.
That the control of Carranza il
Mexico is confined to the various porti
of entry and a few of the larger interio
cities and the territory Immediately ad
jacent to three of the principal lines o
railroads; that whether under control
by force or not in the remainder OF tn
country. Carranza forces are unable 4
maintain order.
That the Carranza regime is directl!
the cause in the territory in which 1t ad
mits responsibility for hardships upol
the people of Mexico and foreigner
alike for the paralysis of industry ant
for the organization Of a government b.
loot.
That the subdivision of large tract
of land promised by the Carranza Gov
ernment as an important part of tn
programme of the revolution has bee
confined almost IL not entirely to tn
conf1scation or enforced sale of larg
and valuable residential and agriculture
properties to Carranza Generals an
civilian officials or the Illegal apportion
Ing Of estates among native sQuatters.
THAT the Carranza Governmer
makes no serious efforts nor seriousl
pretends to make one in the directio
either of protecting the lives of for
eigners or In avenging them when mtr
dered; that the Carransa regime ha
been permitted and has in fact consis
tently and as a matter of policy repud
ated all it's International obligations.
That this attitude of indifference I
foreign rights has consistently been Ell
couraged by the State Department
pursuance of its Mexican policy.
Americana Discriminated Agains
THAT since the date of the Carranz
7 regime as the de facto Government
. Mexico there has been no material in
provement in conditions in Mexic
t either as to the treatment OF foreigner
or as to domestic AFFAIRS.
THAT in the treatment of foreigner
Americans were particularly discrin
mated against by the Carranza Cover
ment that German residents are marke
by the especial favor of the Carranz
Government
THAT the attitude of the Carranl
Government toward the people and u
Government of the United States ha,
been both contemptuous and hostile.
That while maintaining a so-calle
neutrality during the late war. the Ca
ranza Government repeatedly and col
sistently permitted itself to be used
the tool OF German propaganda
Mexico; that the Mexican wireless syste
largely was manned and operated
Germans and was entirely at the di
posal Of the German Government ar
the German propagandlsts in Mexico,
THAT despite the continued bad col
i ditions in Mexico the State Departmel
, at present In so far as Mr.. F1e' cher W;
able to tell the committee, has no defini
q view as to what changes in policy mig
o be beneficial nor apparently any intel