The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-11-19
DIAZ JABS AMERICANS,
SARCASM DETECTED IN PHRASE
OF HIS MESSAGE TO TAFT.
Too Subtle for RetaliatiOn-South
American Diplomats Chuckle.
While State Department Laments
Presidents Absence.

Washington, Nov. 1.-THE State
Department, while outwardly smiling,
is inwardly raging over the conclud-
ing sentence in the message sent to
President Taft yesterday by Presi-
dent Diaz, of Mexico, concerning the
points at issue between the two
countries.
In his message, President Diaz
uses these words: THE Mexican Gov
eminent offers to repress with all the
Vigor OF law any attempts whatever
against American citizens residing
there. which are not to be expected.
considering the culture of the peo-
ple.' These words end the dispatch
which Diaz begins by speaking of
the solidity Of the relations between
Mexico and the United States. and
diplomatic circles ponder over them
the more as they are convinced that
the last IL words are a. deliberate
and intentional piece of satire on the
part of the Mexican president.
considering the culture of the
people is an entirely new phrase in
diplomatic language. 1t seems never
to have been used before and South
American representatives in Wash
lngton have been chuckling over II
ever since the Diaz dispatch was
made public Yesterday afternoon. The
unanimous opinion among them is
that President Diaz intended it as
sarcastic comment upon the conduct
of American citizens in Mexico. State
Department officials privately take
the same view of it, but publicly pro-
fess to see nothing to cavail at in the
dispatch.
1t is also conceded that develop
ments may easily arise which will
make the situation between Mexico
and the United States exceedingly
acute. and that the Presidents alb
sence from the country at this time
is somewhat embarrassing, as we'll
as unfortunate.
In the reply TO President Diaz. II
is understood. no notice will be taken
OF the unusual language contained in
his dispatch, but it is said this reply
will be delayed sufficiently long to
make it plain that the United States
sees the satire through the veil of
pollte diplomacy. 1t will not be
sent, according TO report. until the
return of President Taft from Pana-
ma.
The situation in Mexico, it is be-
lleved at the State Department. will
in the end be settled pacificaly and
satisfactorily. A message from Am
bassador Wilson was received today
in which he stated that the Mexican
Government was living sincerely up
10 its promise to protect American
citizens and that things seemed 70 he
quleting down. President Taft. be-
ing IN Panama, knows little or moth
ing or the recent development and
the State Department labors under a
disadvantage in not being able to
consult with him at time like this.
In response to Diaz's message. the
State Department has telegraphed
the Governors Of Texas and -Oklaho-
ma asking them to prevent an at
tempt to lynch the Mexican who
killed the Chief of Police 1t Anadarko
on Sunday.
The State Department has not
been abe to confirm the report that
Rodriguez was not a Mexican, but a
native born American, but it is ex-
pected that investigation now in prog
ress VIII clear up that point.-Balti-
more Sun.