The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1919-07-10

PLAN
A SHELL GAME"
Trying to Get Americans to
Settle Claims With His
Henchmen
HAS IGNORED THE
STATE APARTMENT
United States Government Objects to a
Prejudiced Mexican Tribunal-A
| City at Work

WASHINGTON, July 10.-First Chief
Carranza, having failed to reach an agree
ment with the United States over the
question of deciding how American claims
against Mexico should be considered, has
resorted to a new method of procedure.
He has decided to ignore the state depart
ments objections to his exclusive Next
can claims commission and invite Ameri-
cans to deal directly with Mexico ire
spective of the views of their own gov
eminent. As an initial move in this plan,
officials here note that Carranza already
has established a financial agency at 100
Broadway, and has begun to advertise his
willingness to settle claims along lines
vaguely summarized Gen Candida
Agullar is understood to have been in
structed to do business with the American
claimants direct and not to waste further
| time trying to obtain official 30. *. "
| on Carranzas scheme from Washington.
| The effect of the latest Carranzista
move has partly amazed and partly
amused officials here. They do not ex.
| actiy know whether TO view it as an af.
| front to diplomatic procedure or a new
| form of propaganda. To some officials il
| has the earmarks of the old fashioned
shell game" because little doubt is en-.
| tertalned as to the fate of American
claimants who permit themselves to be
| 'roped in by the apparently alluring
offer of Mexican readiness to pay money
to American citizens.
At first blush it would seem that any
American who deliberately trusted
claim to a scheme which his government
! does not endorse was taking chances
but curiously enough, it is rather expect
cd here that some of the first American
appeals to the CarranZa agency may be
speedily rewarded in the same manner
that players at the gaming table some
times WIN at the very start in order to
II encourage play But az business propo
sltlon American claimants doubtless viii
be warned to place faith in the regula
ton procedure and deal through the STATE
department here instead, of directly, Will
the agents of Carranza.
The Mexican first chiefs plan is t.
force all American claimants to deal will
commission made up exclusively of Mex
leans, who are naturally ready to d,
Carranza's bidding and protect hi
meagre supply of funds. The United
states government has been asked b,
Carranza to approve this plan, but ha
refused on the ground that American
interests would not be sufficiently pro
tected
The state department has made sue
gestions to Carranza to change the make
up of the so-called commission in suel
manner as to protect Americans Thi
Carranza has refused Gen Aguiar ha
been wrestling with the problem withou
success because the United States govern
ment has refused persistently to accep
anything which provided various and sun
dry loopholes whereby American claim
ants could be victimized
There have been suggestions that til
/ commission be made up of some Amer
cans as well as Mexicans, SO that tn
cards could not. be stacked for importan
decisions. But the idea of having Amer
cans identified with the rulings was IL
Jected by Mexico. CarranZa agreed t
permit appeals to be made from the CON
4 missions decisions, and in that event on
Mexican, one American and one outsid
| Judge would pass upon matters at issue
The prospect, however, of permittin
! the exclusively Mexican commission t
drag American claims along year in an
4 year out prior to any appeal did not al
pear promising Therefore Aguiar faile
j and left Washington without having oil
j tanned approval of Carranza's plan.
is understood that Aguiar knew prett
well that the United States governmer
y had seen through the various subtletie
Toy which Carranza hoped to prever
| American claimants from ever gettiu
hold of any real money.
In proportion to its size fv walks