Roanoke Rapids herald., 1924-01-11
NEWS REVIEW Of
CURRENT EVENTS
Sale of u. S. War Material
to Government of Mexico
Loudly Protested.
BY EDWARD w. PickARD

G CltPLUS war material is being sold
~ to the Mexican government, the
first shipments of arms and ammuni-
tion having already been received at
Mexico City. President Obregon sent
Il special emissary to Washington to
ask this favor, and the granting OF
it was approved by President Cool
idge on the recommendation of Sec
retary of State Hughes though the
amounts to be sold will be far less
than Obregon requested
Opposition to the transaction has
promptly appeared in both house and
the senate and is not confined to the
Democrats, though the opponents of
the administration perhaps are loudest
in their denunciation. Representa-
tive Fairchild of New York, Republi-
can, jumped to the front with joint
resolution to write into the permanent
law of the country the prohibition of
the sale of arms or ammunition to any
foreign government. which was the
policy of the late President Harding
The sale to the Obregon govern
ment is astounding" said Mr.. Fair
child. Il am surprised ii should ever
be thought of. There is no essential
difference between furnishing firearms
and furnishing men to fire the arms.
This act constitutes just as much
interference and amounts to just us
much slaughter"
Senators Norris, King and others
were only a little less Gutspoken in
their opposition to the sale, and Sena-
tor Hiram Johnson In his Cleveland
speech Thursday. opening his Ohio
campaign, did not neglect to include
the episode in his Indictment of the
administration. The Democrats have
evolved the theory it is political
move, pointing out that the diplomatic
peace with Mexico is to be used in the
coming election as one of the great
Coolidge accomplishments If a revOlu-
tion upsets the government that has
just been recognized, that recognition
could hardly be counted as an admin
istratlcn asset.
1t is understood Secretary Hughes
takes the stand that political difficult
ties in Mexico, Central America and
South America should be settled by
the ballot rather than by the bullet
that this government should at no time
encourage revolutionary movements
that seek the overthrow of regularly
constituted governments, and should
not reject appeals for ala similar to
the one made by the Obregon govern
ment.
There has not yet been anything like
a decisive battle between the federal
and revolutionary forces in Mexico
but both sides are exceedingly active
The former, according TO dispatches
from Mexico City. are now advancing
on Vera Cruz from the south. west
and north. The rebels have defeated
the army of General Cardenas in Jalis-
co, that commander being wounded
and captured and General Navarro
being killed. Cardenas was lured into
trap and the resulting fight was
bloody and desperate. This was the
most serious reverse the Obregon
forces have sustained and opened for
the insurgents communication between
Guadala jara and the Pacific ports. The
rebels announced Thursday that they
were beginning an advance on Puebla
and Mexico City from Vera Cruz.
IT'S poor week for news when there
L is not some trouble in the Balkans.
Last week came up to the mark with
the prospect of warfare between Jugo-
Slavia and Bulgaria. OF course they
are always at swords points. but now
the situation has become acute. On
Wednesday the Bulgarian government
gave permission for the return to the
country of ex-King Ferdinand. who
was responsible for dragging Bulgaria
into the World war on the side Of
Germany. At once Jugo-Slavin sent
10 Sofia an ultimatum protesting
against this action and also against
the secret increase Of the Bulgarian
army and alleged Bulgarian menace to
Aegean ports. Serbian troops were
vrnhflizod m tho froDftar md uoro