The sun., 1919-08-02
217 VICTIMS In
MEXICO SINCE 1911
Lansing Tells Senate Also Of
942 American Damage
Claims Filed.
PAYMENT STILL SOUGHT
Gates Assails Fletcher Again
oil Sales to japanese
Threatened.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 1.-Two hundred
and seventeen American citizens have
been killed in Mexico since the end OF
the regime of Porfirio Dlaz on May IS,
1e11, the Senate was informed to-day by
Secretary Lansing in response to a reso-
luton by Senator King. Democrat, Utah.
Claims filed by American citizens asking
damages because of Mexican depreda-
lions during the time have totalled 942,
Mr.. Lansing said
No amount of damages was fixed In
1853 of the claims, Mr. Lansing said, but
The total of the remainder was $26,629,-
597.
1.-THE question of claims of American
citizens against the Government of Mex
ico," said Mr. Lansing, "is still the sub
ject of diplomatic negotiation with Mex
leo. having been strongly presented to
Gen. Candido Aguilar confidential Am
bassador to Mexico, recently on a spe-
cial mission to the United States. This
Government is pressing the matter of
arranging for the adjustment and pay
ment of these claims upon the attention
Of the Mexican Government"
As to the number of citizens of other
countries killed in Mexico. the Secretary
said this list was not complete.
Attention, however, was called to the
killing of 303 Chinese at Torreon on
May II and Is, 1911.
Accompanying Mr.. Lanslng's letter
was a table compiled by the State De-
partment on claims filed. Claims for
damages to property were 772. of which
11S specified no amount. The other
claims totalled s22.S35,5e2.
Claims growing out of the killing of
American citizens totalled seventy-three.
of which twenty-five stated no amount
of damages The others carried claims
Q q q al tvs an
claims for injuries to persons, with
eighty-seven calling for S1,476.629.
Elimination of President Carranza
with the least damage possible is the
only solution of the Mexican problem
the House rules committee was told
to-day by William Gates, an archeoi-
ogist of Baltimore, who resumed his tes-
timony on a resolution proposing an in
vestigation of the relations between
Mexico and the United States.
Mr.. Gates said Henry p. Fletcher, the
American Ambassador to Mexico, re-
allied that Carranza was impossible
and added that the Ambassador had not
obtained the facts in the Mexican situa-
ton for President Wilson.
"If we had had a Morgenthau, a
Whitlock or a Hoover in Mexico" de-
clared Gates, "the German Minister Won
Eckhardt would have had to leave Mex
leo and Mexico would have come into
the war on the side of the Allies"
what would be the effect of the
withdrawal of recognition of CarranzaY'
| asked Chairman Campbell.
I'm the territory controlled by Car
rama 1t would mean the death of Amer
lean men, worse for the American
| women and destruction of property
needed in rebuilding the country" was
| the reply.
Pressed further as to how Mexicans
would accept authoritative assurance of
| financial aid and possible military as
sstance from the United States in OPP
posing Carranza, the witness said most
Mexicans would say:
Thank God, you have redeemed belief
| in America"
Some of the American oil companies
in the Mexican field are reported neso-
tiating for the sale Of their properties
to Japanese interests. The State Depart
ment is investigating. Officers of the
American concerns are reported to have
stated they were taking the step in pro-
lection of stockholders because they say
they are unable to get protection for the
properties.