The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-03-12
SENT ARMS
.TOCANTU,
CLAIM
OIL Interests Reported to Have
Pledged $1,000, 900 for
Defeat Of Oregon.
By JOHN T. LAMBERT,
Cosmopolitan News Service,

Cosmopolitan news service.
An effort to determine the truth
of the formal charge that former
Secretary of the Interior Albert B.
Fall and the Department of JUS
tice were engaged in a conspiracy
to foment a revolution in Mexico
likely to cause a reign of violence
and blOodshed is being made today
by the Senate committee which will
hear the complaints against Attor-
ney General Harry M. Daughertv.
Harding Rebuke Recalled.
The charge reveals the hitherto
unpublished fact that several hun
dred rifles, $4,000 rounds Of am
munition and several machine guns
were intercepted and seized by
American officials before their de-
livery to Mexican revolutionists in
tent on overthrowing the orderly
government Of President Obregon.
The seizure was made near Cal
exico. by American city officials
late in 1921. Secretary Fall was
then the predominant figure in the
Harding Cabinet. His alleged at
tempt to dominate the country's
policy on Mexico is said to have
drawn a rebuke from President
Harding.
Secretary Hughes is said to have
become so provoked by what he
regarded as Mr.. Falls readiness to
disturb the friendly relations then
being erected by the two nations
that he served notice upon the
President that he would no longer
tolerate unwarranted interference
with the policy of the State De-
partment.
Oil Interests Accused.
The charge insinuates that Amer
lean oil interests were behind the
effort to provoke the revolution.
1t records the report that 81, 900, 900
had been pledged to supply arms
and munitions against Oregon.
Esteban Cantu had been removed
as governor of Lower California.
according to the charge, and in his
place President Obregon had an.
pointed Eipgmenio Ybana, who set
himself to the task of installing
friendly conditions between the
Americans and Mexicans on either
side Of the border.
The complaint says that after
the conspiracy was Matched in this
country, small shipment Of rifles.
supposedly consigned to Cantu, was
seized In San Deigo and delivered
to the Department Of Justice of.
ficials there.
Those officials released the rifles
to claimants who said they were
intended for use in filming a mo-
ton picture.
Subsequently Cantu's forces at
tackled the Mexican government
troops Of Obregon and were re-
pulsed by General Rodriguez.
The rifles captured from the
reoles were found to be the same
arms that had been seized earlier in
San Diego.
Release to Be PrObed.
Why the Department Of Justice
officials released them at the time
Of the first capture in San Diego
will be investigated by the Daugh-
erty probe committee.
This charge also contains the re.
port that Cantu, while his counter
revolution was being organized.
came to Washington and was pre-.
sented to President Harding by the
then Secretary Fall.
Because Of that report, American
citizens at the border, interested in
stimulating the friendly conditions
resulting from Obregon's admins
tration, complained to the President
Of Mr.. Falls alleged activities.
American officials who made the
second seizure Of the large quantity
OF arms en- route to the anti-Obre-
gon forces believe they nipped the
most serious plot recently Matched
against the well.being Of the Mexi.
can people.