The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-10-19
BLOCKED SHIPMENTS
OF ARMS TO MEXICO
Ambassador Fletcher Held Up
Munitions to Carranza,
Senators Are Told.
LETTER READ AT INQUIRY
State Department Denies U. s.
. Will Make Aviation Base
at San Quentin.

WASHINGTON. Oct. IS. - Henry p.
leo. "fatly refused to recommend or
sanction the shipment of any munitions
or rifles to Carranza," according to a
letter from r. b. Sutton of the Ameri-
can Gun Company. read to-day to the
Senate committee Investigating relations
between the United States and Mexico.
Sutton wrote about a conference he
and Senator and a Representative had
on October with Secretary Lansing
and Ambassador Fletcher regarding the
shipment of 500 guns from New York to
the Carranza Government. license for
which had been issued by the War
Trade Board. After reciting that he
had assured the Government officials
that Carranza had arranged to receive
the guns at the border and that there
was no danger of their falling into the
hands of bandits, Sutton wrote:
Il was most ably supported by the
gentlemen accompanying me. and where
Lansing might have permitted the ship
ment of 500 guns. Mr.. Fletcher effectu-
ally stopped the shipment OF even this
small lot by ridiculing the ability of
Carranza forces to protect the shipment
and stating that these guns were more
apt to be used against Americans than
in safeguarding the lives and interests
OF Americans now in Mexico. Mr..
Fletcher's talk certainly killed the
chances of immediate shipment"
Expected Shipment Later.
The letter quoted Secretary Lansing
as saying that shipment might be ar
| ranged for later. but Mr.. Sutton wrote
that in his own opinion the State De-
partment was waiting for instructions
from President Wilson. H. Il. Oliver,
president of the Oliver American Trad
ing Company of Eagle Pass. Tex, also
| told the committee Mr.. Fletcher had
blocked shipments of arms and NUM-
| tons to Mexico. He was the only wit
ness heard and most of his testimony
was given in executive session.
The Mexican Consul at Preside, Tex,
has reported to Ambassador Bonillas two
| alleged invasions Of Mexican territory,
which he says has involved the kidnap-
| ping of Mexicans by American soldiers
The consul in his report said he had
| complained to the proper United States
| military authorities and that the soldiers
were arrested and the Mexicans freed
| and their arms, which had been taken
by the soldiers, restored to them.
No complaint has been made or Is
| contemplated by the Ambassa dor to the
| American State Department, 1t was said
at the Embassy to-day. because the in
cidents have been promptly settled by
the action of the military authorities and
the Mexican Government does not care
| to create a situation" by filing a for
NAL protest.
The American Embassy at Mexico city
| was directed to-day by the State De-
partment to deny as absurd reports pub
lished in Mexican newspapers that the
United States was undertaking to es-
| tablish an aviation base at San Quentin
Lower California.
Liquidation of the Comision Regula-
dora, the sisal growers organization in
Yucatan, ordered by the Yucatan Gov
eminent because of the depreciation OF
the paper money OF La Reguladora, and
the high price OF silver, have combined
to create another financial crisis In Mex
leo. according to official advices received
to-day in Washington.
The Yucatan Governments order for
liquidation OF La Reguladora created a