The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-09-16
SAYS OIL INTERESTS
SEEK INTERVENTION
l.. j. De Becker Of League of
Free Nations Talks to
Senators.
HIS SPIRIT BELLIGERENT
Tells Committee PropagaDdists
in u. s. Cause Trouble in
Mexico.
speoiql pespatcA 70 THn suN.

Speoiai Despatch to THE Sun.
WASHINGTON, Sept. ID. j. De Bek-
ker of the League Of Free Nations Asso-
citation appeared to-day before the For
eign Relations subcommittee on Next
can conditions. promising disclosures OF
the most damaging character regarding
what he alleges to be the campaign Of
the oil interests to force, through propa-
ganda, American Intervention in Mexico
The tenor and part of the text of what
Mr.. De Becker wanted to get before the
Senators had been indicated in publicity
notes circulated by the League of Free
Nations press bureau Saturday. He was
full Of fight when to-day's session of the
committee began.
The stage setting for Mr.. De Bekker's
trial of strength with the committee had
been perfected by his preparation of an
open letter to Chairman Fall IN. NJ, in
which. after identifying himself and his
function, he presented memorandum
as 20 Senator Falls own history as an
active factor in border AFFAIRS. The wit
ness was permitted to read his letter. but
1t was not Incorporated in the record
Of the hearing.
De Becker said he had been threat
ened with libel suit by the oil producers
and for that reason heretofore had re-
| Trained from mentioning the interests by
name but, in view of the immunity which
testimony before a Senate committee af-
| forded, he was determined to give the
list. Thereupon he said that the chief
propagandists of Intervention were Ed
ward L. Doheny, head Of the Mexican
Petroleum and other oil companies; Ira
Jewell Williams of the Boston-Panuco
OIL Company; Charles II. Boynton. ex-
ecutive director of the National Associa-
| alton for the Protection of American
| Rights in Mexico, and Frank ]. Silsbee.
secretary of that association. The wit
| ness admitted that "some of the members
Of the association probably were opposed
to Intervention"
Describes Open, Letter.
l The witness then described the prep
| aration of an open letter to President
Wilson, which he said was the joint
work of himself and James A McDon-
| aid.
Our assumption was" he said, "that
| the President knows the nature of the
propaganda against Mexico now being
printed is based upon his statement is
sued at the White House. In this the
President said
| Convinced that powerful influences
are at work to force intervention in
Mexico. Administration officials were to-
| day considering just what steps shall be
taken to bring the agitation to ar end
| The President is said to be deter q
to stop the inflammatory rYpnors a
| take legal steps II Necessary"
Mr.. De Becker continued:
| I'VE believe the President Is well in
formed as to the nature of this plot
| against Mexico and that he has at this
xtf
| dence regarding some OF it's ringleaders
and it is our sincere hope that he will
produce this evidence In time TO avert
an Intervention.
'Whep the Senator desired n specific
| instance of propaganda against Mexico
| L fancy he must have been in joculaI
| mood, for 1 cannot suppose that he does
not read the newspapers, or that he does
not possess a complete file of the ar
ticles issued by the Boynton Agencies
II he will refer to the newspapers detail
ing the adventures of a German spy In
Mexico he will find that 1t is sponsored
by the Association for the Protection Of
American Rights in Mexico, although
there Is no reason to suppose that this
person ever saw President CarranZa ant
a specific deniar was made in dispatches
from Mexico city by CarranZa himself
De Bekker's testimony next was de
flected to the discussion of the Jpropa
gandists and he submitted TO the com
mittee the publishers announcement Of
a series of stories by Agnes c. Laut
whom he asserted had gone to Mexico
ostensibly to represent the Saturday
Evening Post, but actually in the inter
est of certain financial journals in tn,
United States. England and Canada.
Ascertain If her real masters do no
include the list of the petroleum trad
papers named by Mr.. Boynton's propa
ganda societies as belonging to them o.
If she has any great philanthropic worl
for children in Mexico backed by DR.
Norman Bridge of Chicago" Mr.. D.
Becker demanded of the committee.
De Becker was questioned by the Sen
ators as to his own status. He asserted
, that he was a loyal American demand
ing a square deal for Mexico. He ais
was questioned as to what proof he coul'
pre- duce with regard to the propaganda
In the American press designed to maligl
Mexico with the Mexicans.
In answer he cited Washington des
patch to THE SUN printed August 26 Il
which the Government plan for inter
vCntion was set forth, the bulletins o
the Association for the Probation o
American Rights and the columns o
the daily press generally. He also sal
the selection of Senator Fall to be chair
man of the subcommittee investigatin
Mexican conditions was an indication O
propaganda.
De Becker asserted that he had bee
paid no money by the Carranza Gov
eminent, but that he had travelled in
private car lent by Mr., Carranza for tn
purpose of his sojournings. Luis Ca
brera had been his travelling companion
The experiences of the witness in Mex
leo had been confined to a single visit.
MEXICANS FAIL TO