Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1912-04-13
InSurrecto General and Ameri-
can Consular Official Sever
Diplomatic Relations in Chi
huahua,
FRICTION OVER EXECUTION
OF FOUNTAIN ONE CAUSE
Seizure of United States Mails
Leads to Vigorous Protest
and Rebels Resent Failure to
Recognize BeIIigerenCy


! ny Morning journal Special Iensed Wirs1
chihuahua, Mex, April l2-Th'
| qua ST official relations, which ny
! force of circumstances, have existed
between Marion Letcher, the United
| States consul here, and Gen. Pascuai
| Orozco, commander of the rebel
forces. were broken today when
Orozco formally notified Mr.. Letcher
! that he no longer recognized the lat
ter in an official capacity. This Off
cial ostracism includes also James J.
Long, the United States consular
agent at Parral
In a general way. the reason given
by Orozco for his action Is that ne
cannot recognize representatives OF n
government which does not recognize
the belligerency of the party of
which he is the leader.
A series of incidents. however, led
to the climax. Since the revolution
began the consul, from time to time,
has been compelled, in the absence of
other authority in Chihuahua, to take
up various matters with Orozco. Tho
latter fretted under the fact that the
consul did not address him as reg
ularly constituted authority.
Less than a week ago rebel band
went through the Mexican Central
train, bound from Chihuahua to
Juarez, and seized letters and docu-
ments carried by passengers. among
the matter seized being considerable
of Consul Letcher's official CORE
spondence addressed to the state de-
partment at Washington
Mr.. Letcher protested in no uncer-
tain language to OroZco against the
act. There were several exchanges
over the matter until finally the rebel
leader informed the consul that the
letters had been seized because they
were stamped either with American
stamps or not stamped at all.
Orozco declared that the fact that
the letters were not entrusted to the |
mails as conducted by the rebels was /
an insult to them, not to mention the F,
fact that by using messengers instead |
Of the mails the rebel government Is |
deprived of legitimate revenue.
In conclusion. the consul was in |
formed that his letters We're In the |
postofflce and that they were at his
disposal as soon as he saw fit to !
aftix official Mexican postage stamps |
Another incident which increased |
the tension between Orozco and |
Messrs. Letcher and Long was the
execution of Thomas Fountain, an
American soldier fighting under the
leadership of Gen. Pancho villa, at I
Parral.
Fountain was not SPY, but a
soldier and was captured in uniform
and under arms. notwithstanding
this he was condemned and shot.
American citizens attempted to inter
cede and, as a last resort Consul
Letcher and Consular Agent Long de-
livered a request. said TO have been
signed by President Taft in which
the latter requested that stay of
execution be granted in the case until
a more thorough investigation could
be made. This plea was rejected
almost instantly. to the great indigna-
ton of Americans resident in ParraL
Their protests against an act which
they declare was against the rules OF
all civilized warfare. reached the ears
of the rebel leader but served only
to stiGen his attitude. His letter to
Mr. Letcher today plainly indicates
his resentment against what he con
siders undue interference by Ameri- l
I
Of the rebellion.
Since the beginning of the revolt
foreigners have been slow to trust !
heir communications to the mails. &
Almost invariably letters and docu-
ments of importance have been con I
ided to the care of passengers MAX 2
ng the trip 10 or from chihuahua. !
Few passengers have left here without
4 package Of mail To be posted in III
Paso. and most of the foreign mail re-
.eived here has been brought in ny q
he game method. :
American stamps. when available,
nave been affixed. or other provision "
made for postage when the letters "
we're mailed in El Paso. II has been
akcn Tor granted the sealed missives y
re no more sacred in Mexico now
han a. any other time when official .
II.