The Monmouth inquirer., 1922-07-06
ANTI-OBRECON
ELEMENT ACTIVE.
Washington Observers Connect
1t With Recent Outbreaks
Against Americans.
TO PREVENT RECOGNITION
Declared Propaganda Machinery Is
Being Worked Overtime by Revolu-
tionists-Employees Of cortez Oil
Company Held for Ransom.

Neutrality-suspicious. of Mexican
affairs in washington zee connection
between the sudden outbreak against
Americans in Mexico and the machina-
tions of certain anti-Obregon elements
in the United States, who are working
to prevent recognition of the Mexican
government and at the same time
scheming to stir up a revolution in
the southern republic.
Felix Diaz, son of the late General
Poriforo Diaz, has been back and
forth between Washington and New
York several times recently, and prop
aganda machinery is being worked
overtime by the revolutionists. Cecilio
Ocon, another prominent Mexican,
identified with the anti-Obregon group,
is usually the companion of Diaz on
these trips. Leon Canova, former
chief of the Mexican division of the
American state department, and Diaz
sympathizer, is also Identified with the
elements that are bestirring them
selves to prevent Secretary of the
Treasury De la Huerta, of Obregon's
cabinet, who is in Washington, from
obtaining recognition at the hands of
the Harding administration for Obre-
gon.
The sudden outbreak of kdnapings
of American citizens in Mexico and
holding them for ransom is, in the
minds of many here, a part of gem
eral scheme to foment trouble between
the United States and its southern
neighbor The old exiled element from
Mexico is said to be the backbone and
financial supporters of the movement,
which is now centering in Washington,
to block recognition of Obregon.
The social lobby is, being used to this
end A few days ago former Con-
gressman Littlepage, of Indiana, gave
a reception at his country home in
Maryland, just out of Washington.
Many members of Congress were on
hand, most of the Indiana delegation.
Felix Diaz was there, and an effort
was made TO turn the affair to the
account of the Mexican revolutionists.
Friends of Littlepage say he was inn
posed on and was innocently drawn
into the propaganda campaign.
1t does not appear at this time, ac-
cording to those in close touch with
Mexican affairs, that Diaz has strong
financial backing among Americans,
but he is said to be trying to establish
connections in New York which wffl
provide the necessary resources. Many
large American interests desire to
stand in with any group in Mexico
which has a chance to seize control
of affairs.
The present drive is being made CO.
incident with the efforts of Obregon to
arrange for speedy recognition. The
proposition is being favorably consid-
cred by Secretary Hughes at this time.
The conflicting elements are battling
hard for advantage and the present
outbreak In the Tampico district,
where forty Americans employed by
the Cortez Oil Company have been
kidnapped and are held for $4,000 pesos
ransom, is believed to have connec-
tion with the revolutionists' activity
here
1t is certain that the American gov
long as these outbreaks occur, and
thus the cue of the anti-Obregon group
is to see that law and order are not
too conspicuous on the Mexican hori-
zon.
Students of Mexican affairs are re-
calling that similar outbreaks to those
now occurring have occurred with reg
,1larity when the wires were pulled
from the American side of the border.
At the White House it was said that
relations between the United States
and Mexico were not likely to be af-
fected in any way by the bandit out
break at Tampico and the recent kid
naping for ransom near Cuernavaca
of Bruce Biesaski, formerly chief of
the Bureau of Investigation of the
Department Of Justice and more re-
Gently identified with American oil in
terests who have property in Mexico.