Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-01-24
NO SHIPS TO SELL

Washington. Jan. 23.-SaIe to the
government of Mexico by American
citizens OF vessels intended to be
added as fighting craft to the Mex
lean navy would be In spirit II not
In letter a violation Of the eoncep-
ton of the Treaty obligations of the
United States. in the view of admin
istration officials.
This attitude is understood to have
been made clear to the Mexico City
government and Is expected to re-
suit in the dropping of negotiations
| with private American ship owners
for the purchase of vessels which
the Mexican government intended to
use against rebel gunboats.
The original desire Of the Obregon
government was to purchase from
| the government of the United States
not only army equipment but sew
eral light naval craft of gunboat or
destroyer type. The Washington
| naval limitation treaty. however.
| specifically forbids the signatory
| powers to dispose OF any war craft
| in any manner which will permit
| them to become a part of the naval
! forces of another country.
| r Several elements in the Mexican
| situation moved toward adjustment
| today, Consul Wood at Vera Cruz
| not only reporting TO the state de-
partment that the Tampico blockade
had been lifted but that orders for
ha 4f oil h
| stmctions from the ports OF From
terra, Puerto Mexico and Vera Cruz
had been issued by the revolution
, airy authorities at Vera Cruz.
At the same time the two claims
= conventions with the Obregon gov
eminent. upon the basis OF which
| the United States accorded diplo-
| matte recognition, were ratified b.
| the United States senate with little
! debate.
It Is known that agents of the
| Mexican government have searched
the harbors of the United States for
! privately owned vessels suitable for
| their naval purposes. Inquiries from
| the owners of ships which the Obre-
gon government has sought to buy
have been received by the Washing
| ton government asking that it indi-
/ cate its attitude relative to such
sales.
,, Included in the available craf' pri-
! v:.ely owned are numerous old q
! stroyers. gunboats. and cruisers
stricken from the United States nav
| lists within the last few years and
sold at auction. most of them to be
| junked. hut a few to be converted
| in various ways or to be kept sub
! stantially as they were when taken
over from the navy department.
! Many were In condition when sold
I 10 be exactly what the Mexican
! government now needs.
! Most OF the sales were made in
! 1910 and 1920. before the Wash
! ington arms conference had been
! conceived. The sales contracts i'm
/ posed no restriction which would
! have prevented resale to Mexico or
! any other government. No legal
| barrier now exists to such sales, al
/ though naval vessels which have
! been sold since President Harding
/ called the arms conference have all
! been disposed of under the stipuia-
; ton that they must not be trans.
: TERED without the sanction OF the
Washington government in any way
that would permit their being used
as war craft by other countries.
! If the Washington government. in
! response to an inquiry sent immedi-
! ately to Consul Wood. is informed
that the lifting OF the Tampico
i blockade is permanent. American
war craft will be withdrawn. from
1.-The vicinity of that port. In revolu-
tionary Headquarters circles here.
however. It was learned that the reb-
81 leaders had In mind rather a
| change in form than an abandon
! mcnt of their blockade plan. Orders
! 10 the rebel gunboats. It was said.
would be to warn merchant vessels
that they would pass at their own
I. risk between the war vessels and the
: shore targets OF bombardment by
! shin guns
state department officials have
emnhnsixed nj every opportunity.
however. that since belligerency or
the rebe, faction was not recognized
! by the United States. no reneI inter-
| ference with legitimate American
commerce could or would be toler-
| ated.