The New York herald., 1922-06-27
MEXICO ENDEAYORS.
TO RESCUE BIELASKl
Continued from First Page,

ing Company's holdings are situated. and
the other that 1t was plain BolsheviS
banditry. practiced on Bielaski by radi-
calls gathered in. Mexico whose enmity
he had incurred while acting for the
American Government during the war.
Political Motive Suggested.
There was a third suggestion that the
kidnapping was done by opponents OF
the Obregon Government as . challenge
to the Mexican administration should II
undertake to produce Bielaski immedi-
ately in response to a demand from the
American State Department. Adolfo de
Ia Huerta Mexican Minister of Finance.
who is head of the Mexican Financial
Mission in the United States, said yes
terday he had no advices on the matter
and could make no statement.
Business associates of Mr.. Bielaski in
the-firm of Richmond Levering & Co..
however, were not inclined to place
much credence in the suggestion that
rival Oil interests were behind the move,
or that II was an attempt by radicals to
revenge themselves on Bielaski for ac-
tivities on behalf of the Government.
Pending further advices from the State
Department. In which Mr.. Bielaskfs sis
ter, Mrs Ruth r. Shipley, is employed,
they attributed the holdup to bandits
who were ignorant of Biclaski's identity
except that he was an American oil man.
They point to the release OF Mrs. Bic
laski and Sonora Barcena. who were
with Mr.. BielasM and Senor Manuel
Barcena, to show that robberysand ran
som were their objects rather than re-
venge Had his 0aptors been aware or
Mr.. Bielaskrs identity. 1t was said. the
money demanded for his release would
have been much more.
This viewpoint rather conflicted also
with the gossip of the oil men In wall
Street. This talk centered about the
hectic competition among various oil In
terests In the Tampico fields, In which,
1t was pointed out. an occasional case OF
kidnapping was nothing unusual. Re-
Gently, 1t was said, the Sinclair Oil Com
pany beat the Mexican Petroleum Com
pany In an injunction fight In the Mexi-
can courts, and Bielaski's mission to
Mexico was to inaugurate similar litiga-
tion in behalf OF Richmond Levering Il
Co. If his kidnapping were the outcome
of his activities In this direction. how
| ever. 1t was pointed out that his identity
would hardly be secret from his cap
| tors.
I bOISncYISt t-bOt TOBSNDhes
The other suggestion. that Mr.. Bielask
was the victim of the American Bolshe-
viki-a recognized political factor In the
southern republic--was put forward bS
| Chester T. Crowell,. an official OF the
National Association for the Protection
Of American rights In Mexico, an Or
ganization claiming a membership oi
! 10000. Mr.. Crowell said that the radical
/ elenfHnt in Yucatan recently had becons
very powerful and that it was composed
of fugitlves from America. Russia. Italy
and other European countries. all advo
Gates of direct action, and among whom
Bielaski had made many enemies. Thi'
! group recently made a show of strength
by calling general strike and demand
ing the resignation of Gov. Garlic
Puerto Of Yucatan. The strike ended
however. some time ago. with Gov
Puerto still In office.
II don't believe" said Mr. Crowell
that Mr.. Bieiaski has been KIDNAPPED
only for ransom. II that were the cas-,
We would have heard of other and NOR,
prominent oil men who have recent,
been in Mexico being held. believe i
| Is case of revenge, not ransom, ant
that Bielask is in real danger unIes
there is quick Intervention"
Mr. Bielaski lives In Station road
Great Neck. Accompanied by Mrs
Bielaski. he departed for Mexico abou
six weeks ago, leaving his four childreI
in charge OF Mrs. Dora Benson, Mrs
| BielaskPs mother. Mrs. Benson saic
last night that she had recently received
g letter from her daughter saying tina
she would be home soon. The letteI
made no mention Of contemplated visi
to Cuernavaca.