El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-01-13
CONGRESSMAN SMITH DEH0UNGEs
GOVERNMENTS LACK OF PROTECTION



those countries should innict injury
upon q citizen here2
THE very suggestion shows me az
surdity Of such policy
@spineIess Diplomacy
I have heard great deal. OF late.
OF what they call dollar diplomacy
and shirt sleeve diplomacy This
case can hardly be said TO belong 20
either Of these classes. 1t may be ap-
prOpristely called 'spineless diploma
cy.' ,.,
IF press reports are true, the United
States government IS falling behind all
other nations IN the matter Of adjust
ing the claims Of its citizens growing
out Of the recent Mexican ueVolution-
read IN the papers that the German am
bassador to Mexico has been travelling
through the various states Of that coun-
try investigating the claims OF German
citizens with q view to pressing them
fDr settlement. ] also SEE . reported
in the newspapers that even Chin-st
claims have been pressed to a maj anu
satisfactory conclusion.
THE German and Chinese claims were
for injuries inflicted within the terrific
~ Of Mexico where the claimants had
voluntarily assumed the risk OF Med-
can protection
DISCRIMINATION Against americans.
only the unfortunate American, II
seems, who was injured while attend
ing TO his own business In bis own
rs
haEgag HE himself 20 thu Mexican
capital and beg as a. gracious 1aVor the
settlement OF his claim he not only
does not have the assistance OF his own
government, but suffers the hanoscap
which his president mas placed upon
him by having said officially that the
invasion Of his rights by the Mexican
troops was not Of any substantial char
acter.'
Mr.. Speaker, those who have suf-
Of
troops on the border deserve better
treatment at the hands OF our govern
Friendly to Mexico.
Z have no hostile feelings toward
Mexico.
Z was in thorough sympathy with
the insUrgent movement and was giao
Of its success
President Madero has not a more
sincere friend or we'll wlsher than 1 am.
I wish for his administration the
largest measure Of success.
Il realize that the shots from Mexi-
can guns which killed and wounded
American citizens IN FL PasO were only
incidental to the fight, and IN no sense
willfui or malicious.
Friendship and Respect.
But this does not absOlve the Next
can government from liability. And In
my judgment II would not disturb the
friendly relations between the two
countries III the 46dSL LOE our govern
ment to take these claims in hand and
press them. I have no doubt Mexico
would have more respect for our di-
plomaCy II the government would do So
The Next Step.
ct IS & well settled rule of interna-
tiOual law that when a government
takes up the claims Of one of its citi-
zens against another government, it
necessarily possesses and exercises thu
power to decide for itself when and 10
what extent it VIII press the claim. as
well as -he means which il viii en-
plCy for that purpose ! can not be-
lieTe that il can be doubted that our
government ought 10 take up the
claims OF those FL PasO people FOR ad-
payment and to this end have intro
duced q resolution in this house. II
ought to be passed. Its effect would be
TO infuse some Virility into cur diplO-
matte force and require this govern
ment to discharge q plain and impoT-
tant duty which it owes to a number
Of its worthy citizens
Room For Improvement.
Lets restore American diplomacy to
the high prestige TO which it is enti-
tied Let's give every law abiding citi-
zen assurance that he has the care of
his government and that he may at all
times appeal TO It with confidence for
protection and for justice
Let's save him from humiliation
wher he looks upon the flag Of his
Let's cause him no blush Of shame
wren in the presence Of fore gners he
IS called an American citizen"