Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-11-20
MEXICO ORDERING
ARMS FROM EUROPE
Preparing for Possibility of Am
erican Intervention - Large
Orders Have Been Placed in
Belgium and Spain
UNITED :, rES PROTESTS
Mexican Cabinet officer After Placing
Wreath on Washington Tomb Went
t. Belgium ana Arranged 20 Send
Munitions to Carranxa

Washington. Nov. 10. (By The Associated
9rcse) Large orders for arms and
ammunition, placed by Mexico in Belgium
and Spain. In preparation for the pos
sibility OF American Intervention, came
10 Ugh, to-day when the state department.
lot it become known that the government
lad taken stops to prevent their ship
snent.
The charge d'afalres of the United
states embassy IN Brussels has protested.
under instructions, that shipment OF tho
Inunition would he in violation OF the
international arm convention. As spain
Is not party to the agreement with was
designed to aid IN keeping the peace Of
the world during the after the war
transition period. no such direct action
Is probable nj Madrid.
The order in Belgium wns placed with
the Fabriuue Rationale DArms at Lege,
probably under the direction of Candida
AEuiar Mexican minister of foreign al
fairs and President Carranza's son-in-
law, who went TO Europe recently after
stopping here and placing a wreath on
George Washington's tomb at Noun.
Vernon.
The orders in Spain. which included
rifles, millions of rounds of ammunition
and Il large number of machine guns,
were negotiated through the Mexican
minister there Eleseo Arrcdodo. former
ambassador to the United states, and
President Carranza's nephew.
The Spanish munitions. according 10 in
formation in the hands of the govern
nent, began passing into Mexico more
than a year ago, while the European war
still was going on and in violation of the
inter-alied embargo.
The United states has been denying
shipments of arms and ammunition into
Mexico for many months for the reason
that they generally fell into the hands
of bandits ana often were used against
Americans Soon after the end of the
war the Mexican government asked for
She release of munitions bought in this
country in 1917, but it was refused.
It appears, from the governments in
formation. that while the peace confer
erce was in session in Parts and Cen
eral Mondragon. a prominent Mexican,
was there advising his government of its
probable course toward Mexican affairs
and particularly the attitude of the
United States. the Spanish munitions
makers with whom large orders already
had been placed were being urged to
speed up the delivery OF powder and cart
ridges and particularly of the machine
guns which We're reported to be new
type described as perfect and unim prov
hblc General Mondragon, II appears,
reported from his conferences in Paris
that Mexico need not fear intervention
by the United states. but information re-
ceived at the same time disclosed that
the orders for munitions steadily were
going forward. The information in the
governments hands also dscloses that
the Mexican officials managing the affair
were attempting to estimate the attitude
of Peru, Chile, Argentina and other
South American countries If the United
States should decide Intervention.
That phase Of the incident however is
not regarded by officials here as threat
ening. Such information as the govern
rent has, however, shows that Aguilar
discussed the South American attitude
toward Intervention during his confer
ences In Europe bur officials here realize
that the subject has always been dis
cussed among the Mexican statesmen
The orders and shipments Of munitions
are the subjects commanding attention
at present and it is known that as late as
July Spanish manufacturers were being
urged TO fl orders to the limit of their
capacity. At one time, it appears, the
Mexican government was attempting to
make up its estimates of the posi- bilities
Of production in Spain by prosecuting in
quiries through the Spanish war office
In that connection recent Mexican ac-
Invites in Spain are receiving attention
and considerable matter characterized
as Mexican propaganda is being observed
In the Spanish press. The important Part
taken by MeXicans in the Spanish cele-
bratlon Of the discovery of America last
month also has been reported.
Meanwhile the activities of a German