The Iola register., 1886-08-20
eAvARos MISTAKE.

eAYARDS MISTAKE.
fntlmatlon That Secretary Bayard aas
Complicated the Cutting Case BY BeRin-
ming His Proceedings ut the Wrong End
Tho Law 0overning Such International
Matters.
WARRINGTON, Aug. 1.-THE impress
sion grows that Secretary Bayard has
seriously blundercd in his conduct of the
diplomatic correspondence over the
Cutting affair. The United States
Statutes, section 20Ol, prescribe ex.
plicitly q course to be pursued, and this
course the official correspondence shows
the demand for the release Of
Cutting there should have been an
official request for information
which Cutting was held, and II the an
swer was not prompt ana satisfactory.
then the administration was authorized
and required to demand Cuttings re-
lease. But Mr.. BayarL blundered. He
took Consul Brigham's statement of
the circumstances of Cuttings ar
rest, and omitting entirely the first
steps prescribed 6y law, he got
the premature demand made for
the release. The discovery OF this blum
der, and the knowledge that this Govern.
mcnt must back out and take fresh
start in the negotiations, is believed to
be the explanation Of the apathy which
has come over the administration re-
garding Cutting. Certain 1t Is that out
side of the State Department this Gov
vernment does not feel at all belligerent.
CORRECT MODE OF PROCEDURE.
The section providing the course to be
pursued Is as follows:
Section 1901. Whenever it is made known
United states has been unjustly deprived OF
his liberty by or under the authority of any
foreign government, IL shall be the duty OF
the President forthwith to demand OF that
ment. and, II it appears to be wrongful and
In violation Of the rights of American citi-
zenship. the President shall forthwith ie-
mand the release of such citizen, and. II the
release SO demanded Ia unreasonably de-
layed or refused, the President shall use
such means, not amounting to acts OF war,
tain or effect the release; and all the facts
and proceedings relative thereto shall as
soon as practicable, be communicated by
the President to Congress.
No demand for reasons was made. The
first communication in the Cutting case
from this Government to the Mexican
Government was conveyed as follows:
TELEGRAM.
DtPARrMKNr OF STArR,b
wAsHINGTON. July II. l-Si.
You are instructed to demand Of the Mex.
lean Government the instant release OF ~
now unlawfully imprisoned ut Paso del
NOrte. BAYARD.
The demand was refused, and the adj
ministratiOn is left without even its own
laws to stand upon. The rumOris afOat
that the last demand made for the release
of Cutting was directed to the State of
Chihuahua instead of to the Mexican
General Government. In view of Mr..
Bayard's laundering, there are people
here who believe the rumOr.
SenOr Romero, the Mexican Minister,
says that his government does not desire
any difficulty or complications, much less
q war, with the United States, which, lie
says, would result disaStrOusly to her.
self. There Is not, he says, the slightest
disposition on the part of Mexico to
show any discOurtesy to the United
States. He adds:
"MexicO has among its statutes pro-
vision which authorizes its courts to take
cOgnizance, in certain cases and under
certain conditions, of crimes and misde-
mcanors committed in foreign countries.
The United States objects to that provi-
sion SO far as their own citizens are con-
cerned. This difference Of opinion, as a
theoretical question, ought not certainly
to lead to any difficulties. Should 1t ap-
pear that this provision is against the
law of nations, Mexico could not object
TO modifying It, or CONG into reasonable
agreement with the United Statess'
1t Is stated at the War and Navy de-
rar,mcnts that while the lighting branch
es of the Government are in their GUS
tomary condition of readiness for action,
offensive or defensive, the present diff
culties with Mexico are as yet the cxclu-
sive concern of the diplomatic branch,
and that no movement Of troops or ves-
sells has yet been ordered with a view to
possible warfare.
At the State Department it is said there
Is nothing new which it would be proper
to make public at present, but that there
is still no reason to doubt an amicabie
adjustment of the Cutting affair. 1t is
learned that the correspond
ence now in progress is expected to
bring about definite results of some
kind within few days, and that the
direct objects sought to be accomplished
by this Government are, first, the release
of Cutting.