The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1920-10-08
LOSSES IN MEXICO
Credited TO U. S.
France And Britain Claim
Millions In Way Of
Damages.


S. collect more than one hundred
million dollars in damages from Mex
leo or pay that sum herself, It was
learned today. Tier intention to
make this issue is known both to the
State Department and to certain mem
bers of Congress.
The British claims are based upon
damages to and deterioration of oil
and other properties in Mexico, as
well as upon the murder of William
Benton, and various other British
subjects during the past eight years
They will be followed by similar
claims from France based in large
part upon the spoilation of certain
French banks in Mexico City and
their branches in other cities turnout
Mexico.
In this connection, 1t is alleged that
the Carranza government seized many
millions in gold from those banks and
placed 1t in the Mexican treasury for
the avowed purpose of basing an is
sue of currency upon It zach Of
this gold was afterward looted from
the treasury. One prominent Mexi-
can officer alone is said to have
brought no less than seven millions
of it TO the United States.
The liability of the United states
is based by Great Britain upon the
alleged fact that at the time Benton
was shot to death by villa, she was
about to protect the lives aud prop
erty OF her own nationals when presi-
dent Wilson interviewed and demand
cd what to all intents and purposes
was mandate over Mexico for AM
erica.
On that occasion, Great Britain
went so far as to send her own diplo-
matte agents to the border to investi-
gate, but was persuaded to withdraw
them by the promise that the United
States would be responsible for the
situation.
u
ed Ambassador Spring-Rice stated
that she proposed to reserve her
rights" 1t lis under such reserved
rights that the British government
will now press its claims.
That the United States is well
aware Of Great Britain's intention
was made clear today when an official
said this government is ready with
complete set of counter-claims. They
are based in large part upon British
depredations upon American com
merce at sea.
These depredations began with
seizure of the Standard Oil ship
Brindela. in 1a4, and continued
without intermission until the United
States entered the war. At one time
no fewer than six hundred cargoes
were at issue. One group of seizures
alone was valued at s25.000,0O0.
Each was protested by the State
Department and Great Britain was
eventually notified by the President
she would be held strictly response
BILE" for her act. When the contro-
versy was at its height. America be-
came a belligerent.
Packers Settle Claims.
One group of American interests,
the packers, have settled their claim
with Great Britain but the aggregate
of unsettled claims, IL was stated.
runs into hundreds of millions of
dollars.
Senator Fall is credited with being
the best informed member of Con-
gress on Mexico. He expressed belief
that Great Britain and France will
both demand payment of vast sums
from the United States.
81 fully recognize" said the sena-
tor, that at the time we accepted
this mandate, matters were very grave
for us. Any interference on the part
of Great Britain in Mexico would
have been very embarrassing. But
could never understand when the
President gave assurances TO Great
, Britain, why he did not give similar
assurances to Japan.
81 was on the border at the time
and wired the President that l saw
trouble ahead unless he included
Japan. That country had vast in
terests in Mexico.
"My telegram was ignored and
within a few weeks, a Japanese bat
tleship appeared off the west coast to
give her subjects the protection we
had failed to offer"
A valuable dressing for flesh