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Show U. S. Envoy Says Mexico Mex-ico in Three Years Has Not Prosecuted Single Murderer of Yankees. Claims Withdrawal of Recognition of Carran-za Carran-za Would Cause Difficulties Diffi-culties Immediately. WASHINGTON, July 22. The -kidnapping of Lawrence L. Snip-ley, Snip-ley, an American citizen, by Mexican Mexi-can bandits near Fresnillo, Mexico, Mex-ico, last Saturday, was reported today to-day to the state department. Shipley Ship-ley is a native of Yeringtor, Nev. EL PASO, Texas, July 22. Francisco Villa and General Felipe Angeles have disbanded their forces until September, and announced an-nounced to their troops they would go to Japan in an effort to obtain ammunition for the Villa revolution, revolu-tion, Americans who arrived here tonight from ,Chihuahua City reported. re-ported. WASHINGTON, July 22. Although about fifty American citizens have been killed or outraged in Mexico since 1917, not a single arrest or conviction is known to have resulted, Henry P. Fletcher, "United States ambassador to Mexico, today told the house rules committee com-mittee in it hearing on the Gould resolution reso-lution proposing appointment of a congressional con-gressional committee to investigate relations re-lations between the two countries. The ambassador also laid before the committee a report compiled by the state department in response to a senate sen-ate resolution showing that sineo the close of the Diaz regime, about 250 attacks of a serious nature have been made on American citizens in Mexico. Relations between the two countries, however, Mr. Fletcher said, have im- ; proved during the last three years. He i added that there was a "wonderful ' submission " to the Carranza rule in; all the sections which the government controls. Although declining to express an opinion as to the policy either past or future of this country towards Mexico, i the ambassador in effect opposed sug gestions advanced by members of the committee looking to withdrawal by the United States of recognition of the Carranza government. Such a step, he said, would only increase the existing unfriendly feeling of Mexicans towards Americans, and would not, unless accompanied ac-companied by other action in the way of assistance, bring about the establishment estab-lishment of a more stable government in Mexico, but vould add to the difficulties diffi-culties of that country. THINKS CARRANZA IS REASONABLY SECURE. At present, Mr. Fletcher said, there were no revolutionary leaders in Mexico Mex-ico with sufficient following to overthrow over-throw the existing government and set up a stable one. "Would the permission of this government gov-ernment to all Mexicans to secure arms and ammunition, furnish these anti-Carranza anti-Carranza leaders aid ? ' ' asked Chairman Chair-man Campbell. "That would have the effect of increasing in-creasing the turmoil in Mexico," replied re-plied the ambassador. ' ' Whether it would ultimately result in a government govern-ment more stable than this one, more able to discharge its international obligations, ob-ligations, or not, I am not prepared to say." Ambassrulor Fletcher said he had no-I no-I (Continued on Page 10, Column 2.) the committee a. list of about 250 names of persons supposed to bo Americans murdered or outraged in Mexico since President Diaz retired from office. This list was prepared by tho state department de-partment in response to a resolution by Senator King of Utah. It showed eleven persons killed this year. Pressed further as to improvement in conditions in Mexico, the ambassador said that, among other things, agencies by which the United States was better able to transact business with Mexico had been established during the past three years. "Are tho murders of American citizens citi-zens as numerous as they weret" asked Chairman Campbell. The ambassador replied that he would rofer tho committeo to the list of Americans who had been killed. "Many of these outrages," Mr. Fletcher said, "were committed by bandits. These bandits have been pursued, pur-sued, but it was difficult to tell if they got the men who had committed the murder. ' ' Representations in each case, he said, had been made to the CarranEO government, gov-ernment, which in turn communicated with local authorities, who failed to take action. "And you don't recall one prosecution?" prosecu-tion?" asked Chairman Campbell. "I don't at this time." "What excuse has been given in official of-ficial circles for lack of arrests or prosecution?" "They usually explained that the murder had been committed by bandits, ban-dits, and that every effort would be made to run down the bandits." " 250 Bandits Surrender. JUAREZ, Mexico, July 22. The American Ameri-can consulate here received a report today to-day from Carranza military authorities that 2b0 Villa followers had surrendered to federal commanders and had been given amnesty. This information was forwarded to the state department at Washington by American ConBul Dow. The surrender of the Villa men occurred during tho past week, according to the report received from military headquarters. headquar-ters. Fifty Villa followers surrendered to General Rodriguez at Naica, Chihuahua. Chihua-hua. One hundred more surrendered at Camarago, Chihuahua, and an additional 100 at Pillar de Conchose, Chihuahua. Villista Killed in Skirmish. JUAREZ, Mexico, July 22 One Villa follower was killed, two wounded and fifteen made prisoners, including Jesus S.ildana, the leader, during a skirmish Sunday hetween a Villa band and a federal fed-eral force from Casas Orandes, commanded com-manded by Colonel Porcayo, according to a dispatch received at federal military headquarters here today. Saldana is a Villa leader of Roman Vegas' s command. The official report stated fifty-two horses, twenty-one saddles sad-dles and nineteen rifles were also captured. cap-tured. Americans arriving from Casas Grandes late yesterday partially confirmed the report re-port of the skirmish. The first passenger train in seven weeks left here for Chihuahua City today. A guard of fifty federal soldiers accompanied accom-panied it. The railroad was destroyed by Villa during his march on Juarez early in June. SLAYERS OF FIFTY I YANKS iPlSIP (Continued from Paue One.) ticed no special anti-American sentiment senti-ment or discrimination against nationals nation-als of this country in favor of those of other nations. Mexican newspapers, however, during the war, he said, were very hostile towards the United States. Another hearing will be held by the committee tomorrow, at which Mrs. John W. Correll of Oklahoma, whose husband was recently murdered near Tampico, and a number of former American residents of Mexico will appear. ap-pear. ENVOY ESCHEWS EXPRESSING OPINIONS. Mr. Fletcher repeatedly declined to express opinions upon conditions in tho southern republic, insisting that he furnish fur-nish only facts. He also told the committee that he had no statement to make. "Do you regard tho situation in Mexico as improved in the last three years?" asked Chairman Campbell. "Oh, yes," was the quick reply. "In what respect?" "Columbus has not been raided," the ambassador answered. When Chairman Campbell called attention at-tention to the recent murder of an American citizen and the maltreatment of his wife in Mexico, tho ambassador said this did not involve relations between be-tween tho United States and Mexico. Mr. Fletcher said Mexican troops were very hostile to the United States nnd favorable to Germany. "What diplomatic situation do you suggest regarding Mexico? "' Chairman Campbell asked.' "If you will excuse me, I'd rathor not answer that," was the reply. "The business of ambassadors is to execute rather than formulate." "Is there any reason why the Carranza Car-ranza government maintains tho present pres-ent attitude towards this government that it docs?" asked Chairman Campbell. Camp-bell. "I must decline to answer," replied the ambassador. Asked regarding recent murders in Mexico and the robbery of American sailors in a boat from the U. S. S. Cheyenne near Tampico, the ambassador ambassa-dor said representations had been made to the Mexican government. Whilo declaring that deplorable conditions con-ditions exist in certain districts, Ambassador Am-bassador Fletcher said in tho districts controlled by Carranza "wonderful submission" was manifested. He said tho territory controlled by Villa was only that "upon which he is camped on that day." The Mexican government, he said, has divided some land owned by Americans Amer-icans among Mexican peons, but he added that "those cases have not been very frequent." OIL DRILLING NOT PROHIBITED. "What would be the effoct upon the situation in Mexico and tho ultimate situation between tho. United States and Mexico if this country would with-drnw with-drnw recognition of tho Carranza government?" gov-ernment?" asked Chairman Campbell. Such action would cause difficulties "if unaccompanied." Ambassador Fletcher replied, adding that by "unaccompanied" "un-accompanied" he meant the. breaking off of relations without any other action ac-tion being taken. Ho said he did not know of any revolutionary lenders now in Mexico who could set up a responsible responsi-ble government. In reply to questions regarding the Mexican government's attitude toward American oil men, the ambassador said Carranza had not prohibited the drilling drill-ing of wells, but only denied permits for wells unless certain prerequisites were agreed upon. Ambassador Fletcher submitted to |