The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-07-22
MANY MURDERS,
CONVICTIONS
Fifty-0ne Americans Killed in
Mexico Since March
8, 1917.

Washington, July 22.-Fifty- one
Americans have been killed in Mex
leo since March 8. 1917, without a
single conviction of Mexican. Henry
P. Fletcher. ambassador to Mexico,
today told the rules committee of the
house.
Ambassador Fletcher declared that
many OF the ortrages against insti-
tLtions were committed by bandits
who were hard to capture, but that
the Carrenza government has con-
stantly said that orders had been
Civ IN for the search for those COM
uniting oujragts against Americans.
Ambassador Fletcher presented to
the committee a. statement drawn by
the state department showing all OF
the Mexican outrages against Amer
lean citizens siace the Diaz regime.
He said he had not summarized the
statement, but he believed that it
showed about 251 murders Of Ameri-
cans since Diaz had been put out Of
control.
Cause Hard Feelings.
Withdrawal of recognition of the
Carranza government by the United
States would increase hard feeling
toward the United States in Mexico,
Fletcher said. There is no revolu-
tioDary leader in Mexico now he
added, who has sufficient following to
set up another government if the
United States should withdraw its
recognition from the Carranza re-
gime.
The Carranza government "endeav-
ors to maintain friendly relations
with the United States" Ambassador
Fletcher said. He was reluctant to
the attitude of the Car
rama government as unfriendly to
the United States, although he was
pressed on this point by Representa-
tive Campbell, chairman of the COM
mittee. There was a hostile feeling
among the people toward the United
States during the war with Ger
many, Fletcher added.
The Carranza government controls !
practically all of Mexico, Ambassa- |
dor Fletcher said.
Organized Government.
Where organized government ex- |
sts in Mexico, it is the Carranza !
government" he added.
villa controls practically the ter
tLOl OL tlidb lId . |
purpose is simply opposition to the |
Carranza government There Is sub
mission to the Carranza government |
where Carranza rules" Ambassador |
Fletcher testified, but he added that |
n many districts the Carranza gov
controlled Sthe cities, while
bandits lay in the outlying districts.
do you look upon Carranza as
the mission of his govern
nent ?" asked Chairman Campbell.
Il think so where Carranza exer-
Uses full CONTROL" answered Fletcher.
What is the attitude of the Car
ANA government toward the people
If the United States?" asked Chair
nan Campbell.
at tends to maintain friendly rela-
ions"
What of the Carranza government
n keeping it's international obli-
cations toward the United States?"
.sked Chairman Campbell.
when we make representations,
are made that no effort will
'e omitted to apprehend the guilty
'arties," said Ambassador Fletcher.
How many Americans have been
Tiled in Mexico since you became
there?" Chairman Camp
ell asked.
Explaining that he presented his
apers to Carranza on March g. H.,
he ambassador said he believed
here were fifty or fifty-one muir
ers and outrages since that time"
Ambassador Fletcher was to be
Questioned closely by the committee
oncarning the present economic. po-
Itical and military relations of this
government with the republic of
Iexico and the character of rela-
ions that have existed since 1910.
knowledge of these condi-
ions was deemed necessary by the
ommittee in acting on a resolution
resented by Representative Gould,
f New York. calling for the ap-
ointment of q joint committee of
he house and senate foreign affairs
ommittee to investigate and rport
D congress on the condition of af-
airs in and with respect to- Mexico.
Present Situation.
The present situation was the sub
ect of affairs among members OF
he house foreign affairs committee
'hich were resumed today without
ny decision having been reached
recedents were being studied closely 5
v leaders OF the foreign affairs com s
littee that 1t may be ready to nova !
uickly to meet any eventuality, and
contact was being had with
lie state department. 4,
1t was understood that Ambassa- ,
or Fletcher would counsel today the 4
Continued on Page Ten.) "