The sun., 1919-03-11
TO SEEK TRUTH OF
MEXICAN SITUATION
Committee of 20 Prominent
Americans to Hold Series
of Open Hearings.

A committee which will consist OF
about twenty members, of whom dozen
have been appointed and which will be
made UP OF some Of the most prominent
men In the country. Is to gather in New
York city within the next week or two
and hold a series OF open hearings on
the Mexican situation with view OF
the facts VIII CHI they are able
to adduce before the Congress and the
State Department.
This was learned yesterday at the
Office OF the Council on Foreign Relations
In 1853 Broadway. by which the commit
tee was named. and which Is taking the
initiative In the movement Those who
have been named TO serve on the com
m!ttee are men we'll known throughout
the length and breadth OF the country,
and the officers declare that the remain
der of the committee will be made up of
men Of the same type Cyrus II. X.
Curtis. president OF the Curtis Publishing
Company: Judge Victor J. Downing
Just CO OF the Appellate Division, New
York; Ole Hanson. Mayor of Seattle :;
Judge Ben b. Lindsay, Denver: Dr.
Henry T. MacCracken, president Of Vas
sar College; E r. Meredith, Des Moines :;
John Bassstt Moore. formerly counsellor
to the state Department Alton b. Par
the Carnegie Endowment for the Ad-
vancement OF Tea ching Prot. William
r. Shepard, Columbia University; Swa-
gar Sherley. member OF Congress from
Kentucky, and Frank p. Walsh. formerly
Joint chairman OF the War Labor Board.
are members OF the board
The committee will sit in the offices
OF the Council on Foreign Relations, 1t
was said yesterday, and hold open hear
ings at which all persons who have any
evidence in any way bearing on the
Mexican situation will be invited TO APP
pear. The dates OF the meetings have
not been arranged definitely. but It was
said that 1t is the desire of the council
to have them started as soon as posi-
BILE. and It Is considered likely that the
frst meeting will be held next week.
The chief concern of the council"
said Mark O. Prentiss, one OF its man
ayers, lin this whole matter is TO de-
velop the facts Far be II from US to
elnbarrass any department Of our Gov
eminent. We desire to work in closest
harmony and friendly cooperation We
desire to further in every possible way
the friendliest relations with Mexico, and
we do feel that II there is no truth in
the statements that are being so freely
circulated resting outrages against citi-
zens OF the United States that our coun-
try should know it. II, on the con-
trary. these statements are true II is
our solemn duty 10 make this known
and to exert every effort to stop their
| repetition.
The committee has been selected
after considerable thought had been
given to the personnel. and we have
endeavored TO place on that committee
only those men in whom everybody in
-
will have absolute confidence. and so far
as we have been able TO learn there Is
not one member Of that committee who
has directly or indirectly any financial
| interests in Mexico or who represents
clients who have interests there"
| In speaking OF the purpose of the
counsel in promoting this series OF hear
ings Mr.. Prentiss said that it was &c
produce the truth in the matter. He
said that the stories Of atrocities com
mitted in Mexico were in wide circula
ton. and that they should be followed
IN TO ascertain whether or not they were
true Then too, he said. there is much
Mexican aganda being circulated
| through this country Al all times. anC
the committee will endeavor to ascertain
whether these propagandists are tellnl
4 the truth concerning the real conditions
; there or whether they are hiding what Il
happening beneath a cloak of duietude
\ dinner conference in to be held th
evening in the Belvedere room Of tn
Hotel Aston, undor the auspices Of tn
Council on Foreign Relations. at whicl
the relations between the United state
and Mexico will he generally discussed
The members OF tho council and fev
guests will have dinner after which ad
dresses will be made by Prof. William
p Shepard. who will preside Ramo
Prida. formerly Speaker Of the Mex
can House Manuel Calero. formerl
Mexican Ambassador to the Unite
States Oscar Branitf, lawyer NJ. Carr
Adape, formerly Secretary OF the Int
ror in Mexico, and Jose Castellor, JT