Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-12-05
Interview With Wilson Takes
Place Today Prior to Franz
ing Senate Policy in Re-
gard to Border Relations.
A.
HITCHCOCK AND FALL
TO VISIT WHITE HOUSE
Ambassador Fletcher and Sec
retary Lansing Go Before
Senate Committee and Can
vass Mexican Situation.

vass Mexican Situation.
Ell Paso, Tex, Dec. 4.-Certain
American concerns operating in
Mexico ordered their border repre-
sentatives today to prepare for get
ting their American employees out Of
Mexico. In some cases the definite
instructions were, given for immc-
diate withdrawal Of American en-
ployes from Mexico.
Names of these companies are
withheld because of possible danger
to their employees in quitting Mex
leo.
Danger to Americans.
Danger to Americans in Mexico
should diplomatic relations between
the United States and Mexico Sc
broken had been one of the subjects
most seriously discussed on the bor-
der iii connection with the situation
arising out of the Jenkins case. Ii
was felt that an order from the gov
ernment, such as was issued BY
President Taft in 1912 ordering
Americans ITO leave would create
much ill-feeling south of the bordci
and possibly cause actual bloodsheds
To Interview Wilson.
Washington, Dec. 4.-Steps to OBJ
tain a personal interview with Pres
ident Wilson before framing a sem
ate policy in the strained relations
with. Mexico were decided on today
by the foreign relations committee.
The decision was made after Sec
rretary. Lansing had appeared be-
fore the committee and, it was said
by members, had disclosed that Be-
cause of the presidents illness he
had not been consulted by the State
department in its handling of the
recent developments which have
brought relations between the two
governments to serious stage.
At the White House tonight the
presidents physician, DR.. Grayson,
said he saw no reason why the com-
mittee's representatives, if they urg-
emily desired it, could not see the
president tomorrow. 1t was indi-
Gated that the two members, selected,
Senator Fall. republican, New Mex
leo, and Senator Hitchcock, demo-
crat, Nebraska, would endeavor to
do so.
Divide on Party Lines.
In deciding to take its problem
directly to the president the COM
mittee divided along party lines, six
republicans voting for the proposal
and five democrats opposing it. The
action came at the end of a day On
discussion on Senator Falls resoiu-|
ton, which would ask the president
10 withdraw diplomatic recognition
of the Carranza government.
1t was said by republican mem
sbers that although the committee
did not discuss in detail the extent
to which the presidents illness might
have interfered with the discharge
of his duties, the point was brought
out that SHOULD the Mexican situa
ton continue to become more critical
some question as to the executives
physical capability might result.
Fletcher Gives Evidence"
During the day Henry P. Fletcher,
American ambassador to Mexico,
went before the committee and was
said to have confirmed many of the
same points as did the secretary in
reply to questions about the attitude
of the State department. For some
weeks he has been stationed here
and has assisted in the diplomatic
correspondence now in progress re-
garding the case of William D.
jenkins, the American consular
agent under arrest at Pueb1a.
A reply now is awaited from Carr
rama to the latest American note re
questing in sharp terms that Jenkins
be released and advices reaching
here today indicated that a commits
sion might be asked for by the
Mexican president to settle the dis
pute. It was said Mr.. Lansing did
not indicate what course this gov.
eminent might take should the re-
ply prove unsatisfactory, but was
very emphatic in his declaration that
the United. States was ready-to
shoulder any consequences which
might result from its demands for
protection of American rights.
Lansing Goes Into Detail.
Virtually all Of Ambassador
Fletcher's statement to the commit
tee related to the Jenkins case, but
Secretary Lansing was drawn into
detailed discussion Of the. whole
general subject of relations with,
Mexico and told the inside story oi
the American governments attitude
during recent years.
A great obstacle to break with
Mexico before the United States en-
tered the European war, Mr.. Lansing
is understood to have said, was the
fact that such break might have
had consequences which would have
destroyed the presidents hope of
avoiding entanglements in the con-
Continued on rase Two. Column Fvs4