Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-12-05
j. s. AMBASSADOR
To mexico CALLED
BEFORE COMMIT TEE
Fletcher First Witness Sum-
moned on Fall Resolution,
Secretary Lansing to Be
Quizzed

WASHINGTON, Dec. 4-Begin.
ming consideration of Senator Falls
resolution directing the president t.
sever diplomatic relations with
Mexico, the senate foreign relations
committee today called upon Henry
P. Fletcher, United States ambassa,
dor to Mexico, as it's first witness.
Ambassador Fletcher's testimony
and the discussion of it was saio
to have revealed considerable dit
terence of opinion among committee
members regarding the best method
Of protecting American interests IT
he southern republic.
Questioning of Ambassador Fletch-
er followed long statement by
Senator Fall, in which he laid before
the committee evidence which, he
said proved that Carranza is bach
of propaganda system in this coun-
try comparable m extent and vicious
ness to the German efforts before
Americas entrance into the war.
Senator Fall told the committee that
in his opinion this is warrant for the
election from the United States OF
all Mexican diplomatic and consular
agents and for withdrawal of Amer.
lean officials from Mexico.
Secretary Lansing will be called
before the committee before action
IS taken on the resolution of Sena-
tor Fall. The committee hopes to
have the secretary before it later
today. Decision to call Mr.. Lansin
for discussion of the Mexican CUES
ton was reached by the committee
after a two-hour session behind
closed doors.
When the committee recessed,
senator's said the whole situation
was in an uncertain state. Senator
Hitchcock, Of Nebraska, acting Dem
ocratic leader, said the administra-
ton senator's had not taken any def
mite stand against the resolution
but wanted the committee to be
fully advised before a course was
decided upon.
Senator Hitchcock introduced
substitute resolution in the commit
tee. which, besides authorizing the
president to break diplomatic rela-
tons with Mexico, would pledge sup
port of congress to him in any sub
Republican leaders of the commit
tee were understood to have favored
the Fall resolution but they joined
with the Democrats in preparing to
get all the facts from Secretary
Lansing before reporting to the SEN
ate.
Senators said much of the commit
tees time was taken up with dis
cussion of the phraseology of the
Fal resolution. The chief reason
for sumntoning Secretary Lansing, it
was said, was to place the two pro-
posals before him.
Ambassador Fletcher, it was .un-
derstood, did not directly indorse
either the Fall resolution or the
Hitchcock substitute. He answered
many questions about the state de-
partment's course in recent negot1a-
lions with Mexico, in which he has
had an active part.
Virtually all of these questions had
to do with The case of william O..
Jenkins the American consular
agent under arrest at Puebla. He
went into this subject fully, and it
was said many of the questions to
be asked Secretary Lansing would
be of similar nature.
Administration senator's called at
tention to the possible effect of adop-
ton of the Fall resolution on the eff
forts of the government to secure
Jenkins release and are said 20
have argued that a severance of dip
lomatic relations might complicate
this and other questions which are
now the subject of discussion
through diplomatic channels.
1t was apparent the substitute sug-
gested by Senator Hitchcock would
meet with opposition because of the
blind promise some committee men,
bers professed to see il it. 1t was
said if the Hitchcock resolution were
adopted congress could not insist on
direct action if the president should
choose to adopt a more pacific
course.
Favorable Report Expected
The prevailing impression is that
the committee will report favorably
on the resolution, probably after con-
siderable discussion.
Administration senators are opp0S-
ing it, on the ground that its pas
sage at this time would prove en-
barrassing to the state department
which is trying by diplomatic means
to adjust difficulties. with Me; ="
Under the Fall resolut.o( the
whole Mexican problem will I, pre-
scented to congress, where there is
considerable sentiment in favor Of
taking the initiative away from the
state department and without wait
ing for further provocation from
Mexico, urging the president to hand
over passports to the Mexican am
hassador aud shut off further diplo-
matte parley.
Adoption of the resolution, these
administration senators declare
could precipitate a crisis by fnflam-
ing the Mexican government against
the United States.
The danger, they point out, lies
in the fact that if the resolution
nassed and President Wilson shoufd
follow it's recommendations by oreaK-
ing off relations with Carranza ana
withdra wing all American diplomatic
agents from Mexico, William y. Jeh-
kins the subject of the controversy
probably would not be released ny
the authorities at Puebla, and II
would then become incumbent on thls
government to try to go In ana get
the consular agent by foFce. MS.
adninistra ton senator's hold, Wouio
mean nothing less than war.
NThe new movement in congress mas
erlipsed temporarily the case OF Jen-
kins, held in a Mexican prison on
charges of conniving with his bandit
cantors which. state department OF
ficials have declared to be unsub-
stantiated. But around the. jenkins
case the future Mexican policy will
he created and before long unless
,,arranza. changes his attitude toward
lie government in it's demand for
The immediate release of the consular
agent. the full weight of the United
States probably will be brought down
upon him.
W.T., D,oeiJao+ wilson's reDr6SSlVe