The Washington times., 1922-07-01
CONNA[LYSEES
To
CURB OBRECON
Recent Kidnapings indicate
Plot to Halt U. S. Recogni-
ton, He Says.
BY WINDER r.. HARRIS.
Tniv.rsal Rervfrs


Recognizing the plain indications
Of a conspiracy to embarrass the
Mexican government and embroll the
United States in new difficulties with
her neighbors. Congressman Tom
Connally of Texas, late yesterday,
demanded a joint Congressional in
vestigation of recent reports Of kid
napings and seizures of American
property in Mexico by bandits.
Backing up his demand. he intro.
duced in the House a concurrent
resolution providing for the appoint
ment OF three Senators and three
Congressman to make the inquiry
and report Its findings in fact and
its conclusions"
The State Department today. in
stead of asking for further exp,ana-
tions from the Mexican government
concerning reported wholesale kid
napings" Of Americans in the Tam.
pico region, peremptorily demanded
an explanation from Consul Shaw,
who conveyed the reports. After the
Mexican government had denied that
any such "kidnapings" had occurred,
attributing the stories to propaganda,
Shaw telegraphed to Secretary
Hughes that no Americans were be.
ing held.
Congressman Connally attempted
to discuss the new turn In the
Mexican situation before the House,
but was stopped on point of order
by Congressman Walsh (Rsp) OF
Massachusetts, Under q special rule
In effect at the time, members were
required to confide their remarks to
the bill under consideration:
Truth Must Be Known.
In the preamble to his resolution
and In an exclusive statement to
Universal Service, Mr.. Connally
| emphasized that he had no inclina-
ton to pre-Judge the matter, but
| explained that the vital impor-
tance Of alleged kidnapings and
property seizures in their bearing
on the relations between the United
States and Mexico makes 1t i'm
perative that the truth be dis.
closed.
II these reports are not true, he
declared. they tend to interfere
with the cordial and friendly re.
lations that should be maintained
| between the United States and
] Mexico and evidence a reprehensible
course of conduct on the part Of
those giving out such statements
and reports"
Congressional investigation as pro-
posed by Congressman Connally, It
Is believed by advocates of the re-es-
tablishment of diplomatic relations
with Mexico, will show conclusively
that much Of the present alleged ban
ditry and revolutionary activity is
the dying struggle of last-hour ef,
fort of certain American interests to
head off recognition Of the Obregon
government, which now appears i'm.
minent. In his statement to Univer-
sal Service, Mr.. Connally said:
| "The press reports of kidnapings
Of American citizens by bandits and
the seizure Of American property in
Mexico present a serious situation
vitality affecting the relations be.
tween Mexico and the United States.
Cites Kidnapings.
| "On the one hand we have stirring
and romantic accounts Of kidnapings
and heroic escapes and rescues. On
the other hand, Mexican authorities
deny that at least some of the re-
ported depredations did in fact occur.
"It IL fortunate that in at least
two instances those who are re-
ported to have been captured have
been released without payment Of
ransom. 70
"If these captures did in fact take
place, they evidence either an In
ability or unwillingness on the part
OF Mexican authorities TO ade-
quately protect American lives and
property.
"ff the kidnapings. or any Of
them, did not In fact occur, but
were the outgrowth u q conspiracy