The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-08-09
FALL HEADS PROBE
OF MEXICO AFFAIRS
senate Orders Searching and
Swift Inquiry Into Out
RACES and Murders.
FILL POWER IS PROVIDED
Brsndegee and Smith (Ariz.)
Also on Committee-Inter-
yention May Be Result.
s,,c,o, pespatcA 10 TIE SUI.


..s,,sation of Mexico. its internal con-
a,,,ons and International relations. COW
Ito. the entire period from the down
al Of the Diaz regime, was ordered
s.asv by the Senate. The investiga-
A., rrobably will occupy several
months.
"a long task and to be done thor
mighty" said Senator Lodge tMass.)'
..orman of the Foreign Relations Com
mittee ,,s
.,sra. but the occasion for this BRIEF
1 n,,arance was significant. He had Just
srrounced the names of the sub-commit-
/ ,an tbat would conduct the inquisition.
sonator Fall IN. NJ, chairman; Sena-
M Brandegee Comm. and Senator
smith (Ariz.) will constitute the sub
committee Of the Foreign Relations Com
mIttee that will do the work
Mr.. Fall for years has been demand
ing perslstently a vigorous policy To-
rerd Mexico. He is at once the best
adorned man in Congress as to all
| Merican affairs and the most bitter
III critc of the Administrators policy
iii mere Likewise he has been an out
snoken enemy of the Carranza regime.
and a defender of the right of Americans
II "a protection of their lives, property
III and business in Mexico.
Teeth Put In Inquiry Resolution.
II The resolution under which the in
rcstigation will be conducted was intro
duced by Senator King (Utah) some
time ago and sent to the FOREIGN Rela-
| tons Committee. With some amend
ments, which put teeth into 1t. it was
reported to-day and Mr. Lodge called
II I'D at the first opportunity.
There was no discussion and no delay.
II was adopted without a vote. as fol-
lows:
Resolved. that the Committee on
Foreign Relations or any subcom-
mittee thereof is authorized and di-
rected to investigate the matter of
damages and outrages suffered by
citizens of the United States in Mex
leo, including the number of citizens
Of the United States who have been
killed or who have suffered personal
outrages in Mexico. and the amount
of proper indemnities for such muir
ders and odtrages the amount of
damages suffered on account of the
destruction, confiscation and larceny
Of personal property and the confis-
cation and deprivation of use Of
lands and the destruction of improve
ments thereon: the number of citi-
Iens of the United States residing
in Mexico at the time Porfirio Diaz
III retired from the Presidency of Mex
Ill leo, and the number of citizens OF
iii the United States at present residing
In
| amount of their present holdings and
properties In said country; and in
general any and all acts of the Gov
eminent of Mexico and its citizens
In derogation of the rights Of the
L United States and of its citizens;
and for this purpose to sit at any
time or place during the session OF
Congress or during the recess Of
Congress, and with authority to sub
pena such witnesses and documents
as may be necessary, and to make q
report of findings in the premises to
the Senate and said committee shall
investigate and report what, IL any.
measures shall be taken to prevent
| the recurrence of such outrages
subcommittee Named mt Once.
That the Senators intend to tolerate
no delay was indicated by the fact tina
almost Immediately after the resolution
had passed Senators Lodge, Fall and
Brandegee went to luncheon together
and an hour later the chairman an
bounced the members of the sub-com-
mlttee. Mr.. Brandegee, like Mr.. Fall
has been persistent critic of this Gov
ernments Mexican policies: while the
Democratic member Of the committee
Mr. Smith, represents a border State. In
which there is deep seated unrest over
Mexican conditions. and himself has re-
peatedly voiced the protests of his con-
stituents against their continuance.
The subcommittee will begin work just
az soon as possible. 1t will be provided
with all information that can be OBJ
tained from the State Department re-
Earding outrages against Americans and
Their interests in Mexico. In due time
ii II viii go TO the international border
Il holdng sittings probably at several
II FONTS in order to get the most intimate
Il losslble view of conditions there and to
Il Gather detailed testimony.
II Little doubt Is entertained here that
II vnless there is prompt change In the In
II ernal conditions OF Mexico, the report
II OF The committee and the subsequent &C,
II uon OF the Senate will be made the
oasls OF demand for Intervention. 4
II International matters having to dc
III WIN MexicQ's relations In several direc,
ii IONS Will ba dealt with by the investiga.
tors' The Carranza Governments rela
uehs with Germany and the Contra
ro"ers during the war. and its attitude
oSard and chickering's with Japan will
not be overlooked.
| TO Consider Foreign Claims.
Likewise, the exact measure of respon.
slOiity that the United States may have
assumed In connection with European
eiahs against Mexico, by reason Of THU
sountrys assumption Of primary author.
~ IN dealings with Mexico, will requir.
CONSIDERATION. Senator King, author oil
ue resolution. has considered that thii
II me- my prove very important matter
ii thousands of American claims have beer
nave been filed with the State Depart
Il "lenL which the Senator declares hav,
II 'eeeNed no attention
No' often has Congress COMMITTEES
vohironted so sweeping a task as is Il
Undertaken In this case From tn,
II T"hlaIl OF Diaz, the overthrow of th'
Suero Government, the murder OF Ma
,o and Suarez, everything will b,
n s.Seu' The Vera Cruz and TampicS
%s' the Pershing expedition Int
Sco. the wholesale unavenged muir.
s OF Americans, the series OF border
os-an will be barred with the mos
Il staklng thoroughness and with thu
sor mat Senator Fall has been storms
~ against the time when he might gel
s opportunity now presented to him