Evening star., 1924-01-07
D|SCOURAGES ARMS.
SALES TO HUERTA.
Government Announces Such
Deals Will Incur Disfavor..
Embargo Hinted.

Attempts by agents Of the Mexican
revolutionary group TO purchase mu-
nftions In the United States are ex-
nected by officials here to bring lit
tie. il any. assistance to the de la
Huerta forces in their effort TO over
throw the Obregon government Ihe
supply of military rifles and ammuni-
tion in the hands Of private concerns
is thought to be insufficient to meet
the needs of -revolutionists, and II Is
also regarded as unlikely that an
American manufacturer would enter
into a transaction known to be IN
conflict with the policy Of his gov
ernment.
The Department OF Justice reiter-
sted the Governments attitude in a
telegram last night to Its agents AT
New Orleans. where representatives
of the revolutionary group were re-
ported negotiating for the purcnase
of munitions. Quoting the secretary
of State, the message stated that, at
though there is no embargo on the
shipment of war materials 20 MeA-
courared." ard that ''rnoSeover, pri-
vate concerns making such shipments
do so entirely at their own risk"
May start Embargo.
An American manufacturer who
might be inclined to deal with the.
revolutionists il Is pointed out IN
some quarters. world face the Hkeii
hood of such a transaction affect'ng
adversely any bids subsequently suo-
mitted by him for government con-
tracts and he also would be con-
fronted by the possibility or an ehi-
barro. which the. Preslden! mas
authority to proclaim II he hnds II
advisable.
THE telegram sent 10 New Orleans
nv the Department OF Justice, read:
matter presented to Secretary OF
s.,+a ard he today issued following
nn the shipment of war materials 10
Mayico such shipments are being dls-
1nnrared. The State Department
docs not look upon them with faEor'
ana they are against THIS g"'enn- '.on
y,Fens's policy. Moreover, private CON
,arrs king such shipments do 80
entirely at their own risk.
"yoIi are authorized to repeat tnis
information in response TO any io'
'ii(, 6ffnis!s explained that while II
night be lawful from a strtctiE
frrhuical standpo at for the reVc1u
1:or!Sts to purchase arms N t,.s
country provided their activities oIc
not violate the consp racy cause i y,
trs ac. rrohibttinE the fonenting on
american soil of movements agains'
{risnfiIv nations. they did rot believe
Amer can manufacturers wouiu THt
cuyutar to the announced pofelss -
their government. regaroless Oh 'h'
question OF embargo.
Supplies In Doubt.
War and Navy Department oficialS
So NOT believe there isaayaflab'e IT
Snl. country mater al in nuantities
I.sirff by the de la Huerta forces
the governments Surplus stock ano
regular reserve equipment ware
houses of course, contain tneM Dut
the business OF private manufactufe
of military rifles has not been re
munerative since the War Depart
n,ent has been building it's own
guns under federal patents
State and War Department aoNlces
would appear to prove that the great
est shortage o, the lIpTesoH
ment was not in rifles, but in ammu-
milton for the Mauser and other rifes
already in the hands of the mexican
army. The first effort made by tne
Obreeon agents was to hnd a supply
of Mauser ammunition. il was stated,
and when they failed to locate that
they turned to the American govern
ment stock of surplus Enfield rines'
for. which the army had many mil.
lions of rounds of ammunition IL
wanted
The ammunition situation among
both the government and rebel forces,
as revealed in official dispatches, ap-
pears to be critical, due TO the mis-
cellaneous assortment Of rihes In the
hands Of the troops. While all of the
men in the field are said to have RI
fes, many are said to be useless for
lack of cartridges to fit the. guns.
In the view of some officials, there
fore, the trans. or to the Obregon
forces of the five million rounds or
ammunition may have. a decisive eff
feet on results OF the UpTlSlNS.