The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1911-03-15
State Department Insists
They Were Kidnapped
on y. S. Soil.
FLAT DENIALS BY MEXICO
Diplomatic Situation lrritated BY
Move to Protect
Americans.

WASHINGTON. March IA seriouo Up.
lomatic question has arisen between the
United States and Mexico over the arrest
by Mexican Federal troops of Edwin NJ.
Blatt Of Pittsburg and Lawrence F. Con-
verse OF California. These young men
have been imprisoned at Juarez since
February % and to-day the United States
Government made formal request to The
Mexican Government to surrender thsm.
The United States asserts that the two
Americans we're taken on American coil
and that the seizure was a violation Of
the sovereignty OF this Government.
A direct issue OF fact exists between
the two Governments on this question.
Mexican officials have declared cats-
gorically that the young men were taken
on Mexican soil. The State Department
in it's note to the Mexican Embassy to-day
does not qualify its contention that the
Americans we're kidnapped from this sids
Of the Rio Grsnde River.
The State Department present note
does not Of course constitute a demand
upon the Mexican Government, but with
the issue squarely joined upon the fa0ts
il presentsa situation in which one Govern
ment or the other will be obliged to reosde
from views already expressed. The State
Department. note Of to-day is further
irritation to the situation that has arisen
through the impressive activity OF the
American army and navy in undertaking
to prevent flibustering in support OF the
Mexican insurgents.
Edwin NJ. Blatt 10 the son Of Peter Blat..
a retired wagon manufacturer OF Pitts
burg. He was a student at St. Vincent's
College in Pennsylvania when in 1909
his health failed and he went to FL Peso.
Converse. the other prisoner. 10 about
the same age a Blatt. He ia son Of c. II.
Converse. a lawyer Of Glendora. Cal
According to the stories told by Bla.t
and Converse and supported by witnesses
they had crossed the Rio Grande River
from Mexico to the American side and
had applied at a plantation for meal.
After eating they had built fire near the
plantation and were sitting before it when
they were attacked by three Mexicans.
They tried to get away but we're over
taken. Their hands were tied and they
were taken across the river into Mexico.
where they were turned over to the Mexi-
can soldiers and then were transported
to Juarez. where they were imprisoned
on a charge of sedition.
Strong influence was Immediately
brought to bear in behalf of both young
men. and in the investigation of the
case Andrea Mariz. Mexican. testified
that another Mexican. whom he named.
had informed him that he and two other
men had kidnapped Blatt and Converse
from American soil. At the conclusion
OF the investigation p d. Edwards. United
States Consul at Juarez. sent the following
tele gram to the Secretary Of State;
After thorough investigation l
found that Lawrence Converse and Edwin
Blatt were kidnapped by Mexican authori-
ties on American soil at least 500 feet
from the boundary line. Have inter-
vened with the Juarez authorities in vain
The Mexican Government. on the other
hand, has insisted from the beginning
that the two prisoners We're taken on
Mexican territory and that they were
armed and were participating in the
insurrection against the Government.
II was only last Wednesday that Sefor
+. l.. de Ia Barra, the Mexican Ambas-
sador to the United States. issued this
emphatic statement:
The embassy affirms catsgorically
that Blatt and Converse were taken
prisoners in Mexican territory and not
on American soil. as has been falsely
represented by the press.
This statement was issued after the
United States troops had been ordered to
the Mexican border.
Senior Beltran y Puga. the Mexican
member of the international boundary
commission. recently investigated the
arrests on behalf Of the Mexican Govern
ment He is now in Mexico city with
his report and it is understood that he
holds that both Blatt and Converse were
captured while in Mexican territory.
There seems to be some uncertainty
among officials in Washington as to
whether the seizure OF the two Americans
in the first instance was by Mexican
troops or by civilians who later turned
the prisoners over to the troops. This
affect the violation of sovsreignty if the
two men were originally taken on Amori.
can territory. II the act was committed
by Mexican Federal troops the aggrava.
tion would Of course he a little more
acute.
The State Departments note contain
ing the request for the surrender Of Rlatt
and Converse was sent to the Mexican
embassy here to-day by Huntington
Wilson. acting Secretary Of State. Am
bassador de la Barra returned from New
York this evening. but the note had not
yet been laid before him by his secretary.
Mexican officials are inclined to minimize
the Importance of the diplomatic note
and to suggest that it will be al easy
matter to reach an agreement. possibly
by referring the geographical phases Of
II YOU wish llsh c, cglasses cali Al Spencers;