Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1919-12-05
COURSE TOWARD MEXICO IS PUT
 UP TO WILL SON
Republicans Vote to Obtain Presidents Views Before
 Action.
LANSING SAYS U. s.
 PLAN AGREED UPON
Secretary of State Is Quoted as Say. ing Decision Reached Some Time Ago to Show More
 FirmneSS.

Washington, Dec. 4.-Steps to ob- tain personal interview with Presi- dent Wilson, before framing a senate policy in the strained relations with Mexico, were decided upon today by the foreign relations committee.
 The decision was made after Secretary 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 de- partment in it's handling of the re- cent developments, which have brought relations between the two governments to a 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 ently desired it, could not see MT. Wilson tomorrow. It was indicated that the two members selected, Sena- tor Fall, republicn of New Mexico, and Senator Hitchcock, democrat of Nebraska, would endeavor to do so.
 Democrats Would Shield President.
 In considering to take it's problem direct to the president the committee divided along party lines. six repub- lcans voting for the proposal and five democrats opposing it. The act ion came at the end of discussion of Falls resolution which would ask the president to withdraw dip'omatio recognition of the Carranza govern- ment.
 It was said by republican members that although the committee. did mt 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 situatio" continue to become more critical some question as to the exe"'1tive's physical canahil'tv might result,
 In opposing the request for an 'n- terview the democrats are under stood to have based their arguments on statement to the committee by Secretary Lansing, who was said to have declared the administration was carrying out well-definod
 
 with Mexico, and to have questioned the wisdom of any precipitate action at this time.
 Administration is Determined
 The decision to take more decisive attitude against invasion of Ameri- can rights in the southern repub'ic. MT. Lansing was quoted as saving. was reached some months ago and now was about to develop whether the Carranza regime would accept or disregard it. He was said to have ada ed that the administration was pre- pared to go to whatever length was necessary to enforce that policy.
 Neither the secretary nor the ad- ministration senators however were represented as expressing directly, any opposition to the Fall resolution. Several attempts to postpone action on it came from the democratic side and Senator Hitchcock, acting demo- cratic leader of the senate. suggest ed substitute by which the senate would merely endorse the state de- partment's course in the matter and declare, in advance. it's support of the president. should he decide to break off diplomatic relations.
 During the day, Henry P. Fletcher, American ambassador to Mexico also 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- earding the case of William o. Jen- kins, the American consular agent under arrest at Puebla
 Mexican Methods Disclosed.
 Ambassador Fletcher gave the committee a graphic account of the method used by the Mexican authori- ties to secure evidence which they declare refutes Jenkins statement that he was not seen at a certain time and place in the company of the bandits prior to his Kidnapping. Flet- cher said the Mexicans gathered 10 peops in that neighborhood and said to them ".enkins was here at that time. wasn't he?"
 The peons said he was not. One of the peons was taken outside the build ing and a minute later those remain ing heard a rifle shot, The other nine were asked the same question and again they the negative answer. Another peon was taken outside and another shot was heard. The remaining eight again were asked the question but their answer was unchanged. Another neon was taken from the room and a third shot was heard.
 When the question was repeated tn ~-~~~~---~~~-~-~->~~-
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