Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-11-14
MEXICO FEARING
INVASION ORDERS
ARMS IN EUROPE

Washington, Nov. IS, (by the Asso-
ciated Press. Large orders for arms !
and ammunition placed by Mexico in
5elgium and Spain, in preparation |
II the possibility of American inter |
vention. came to light today when the |
state department let it become known
that the government had taken step |
to prevent their shipment.
The charge d'affairs of the United
States embassy in Brussels mas pro-
tested, under instructions, that ship
ment of the munitions would be in
violation of the international arms
convention. As Spain is not party TO
the agreement which was designed to
aid in keeping the peace of the world
during the -the-war transition
period no such direct action Is prob
able at Madrid.
The order in Belgium was placed
with the Fabrique National D'Arms
at Iiege probably under the direction
of Candida Aguilar, Mexican minister
of foreign affairs, and President Car
ranza's son-in-law, who went to Eu-
rope recently after stopping here and
| placing a wreath on George Washing
| TONS tomb at Mount Vernon.
| The orders in Spain, which included
rifles, millions of rounds of ammunt-
! ton and a large number of machine
! guns, were negotiated through the
! Mexican minister there, Eleseo Are
| dondo. former ambassador to the
| United States and President Carran-
| za's nephew.
The Spanish munitions, according
| to information in the hands Of the
! government began passing into Mex
|
| European war still was going on and
| in violation of the inter-allied en-
| barge. Rifles and ammunition and
some sample machine guns are re
ported to have passed Havana on
their way to Mexico as late as June OF
this year
Cargo Ship Space Reserved.
For later shipments. cargo ship
space had been reserved for october
| ~ on Holland American line steam
ers sailing out of Antwerp. and FUR
Their space had been reserved for
Tampico, Vera Cruz and Puerto,
| Mexico, on December 8.
The United States has been deny
ing shipments of arms and ammuni-
ton into Mexico for many months for
the reason that they generally fell
into the hands of bandits and often
were used against Americans, Soon
after the end of the war the Mexican
government asked for the release OF
munitions bought in this country in
1917, but Il was refused.
Such information as has now come
into the hands of the government
shows that Mexico already was turn
ing to European manufacturers fol
her supply and has since placed enor-
nous orders
1t appears, from the governments
information, that while the peace
conference was in session in Paris anc
General Mondragon. prominen'
Mexican, was there advising his gov
eminent of it's probable course to-
ward Mexican affairs and particularly
= the attitude of the United States
the Spanish munition makers witt
r whom large orders already had beer
l placed, We're being urged to speed vi
! the delivery of powder and cartridges
= and particularly the machine guns
which were reported to be a new
type, described as perfect and unim
provable.
Attitude of South America.
General Mondragon, it appears, re
ported from this conference in Paris
. that Mexico need not fear interven
/ nation received at the same time dis
closed that the orders for munitions
steadily were going forward The in
: formation in the governments hand
] also disclosed that the Mexican Off
Gals managing the affair were at
l temptlnG to estimate the attitude o
+, Peru, Chill. Argentina and othe1
= South American countries If tn,
+ United States should decide on inter
vention. That phase of the incident
however. is not regarded by Officials
here as threatening. Such informa
ton as the government has. however
, shows that Aguilar discussed thu
] South American attitude toward in
PREVENTION during his conferences II
Europe but officials here realize tina
, the subject has always been discussed
S among Mexican statesmen.
E The orders and shipments of mum
: tons are the subjects commanding
: attention at present and 1t is know
r that as late as July tests were beins
Z made III Mexico, the munitions wer'
: reported as giving perfect results ant
| the Spanish manufacturers were be
| urged to fill orders to the limit 0
. their capacity At one time, 1t ap
( pears the Mexican government wa
attempting tc make up its estimate
of the Possibilities of production il
I Spain by prosecuting inquiries
: through the Spanish war office
Mexican Activities in Spain.
In that connection recent Mexican
activities in Spain are receiving at
tention ard considerable matter char
acterized as Mexican propaganda i
being observed in the Spanish press
! The important part taken by Mexi
y cans in the Spanish celebration of tn,
discovery of America last month als'
has been reported.
Meanwhile the activities Of Ger
man missions in Mexico are closet.
being observed. Attempts by Mexi
can government at confiscation o
mines and oil wells, with an announce
ed view to their naturalization ar,
being closely examined In comparison
with Germany's need for those prod
ucts.