The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-04-18
Mexico Takes Offense at Secre-
tary Wilson'S Note.
Denies Right of the United
States to Send 1t.
She CALLS 1T PRESUMPTION
To Assume That She Is ViOIat-
ing International Law.
Holds OrOzcO Is Responsible to
the State Alone.

Mexico City, April 1S.-Mexico has
replied to the warning note of Acting
Secretary Huntington Wilson declining
to assume responsibility for Orozco'
acts, denying the right of the WASH
ington government to deliver the ad-
monition contained therein, taking ex-
ception to the communication directed
to Orozco through Consul Letcher and
deploring the making public of this
same note to which the government
was required to make answer
The reply was made public by Min
lister of Foreign Relations Calero.' 1t
denies the right of the Washington
government to admonish Mexico, fol-
the reason that it is not based on any
justifiable incident. 1t denies respon-
sibility by the constituted government
for acts committed in territory in re-
bellion, while accepting full response
bility for every loss or damage SuS-
tanned by foreigners legally chargeablc
to the government.
A caution has been issued to lead
ers of the federal forces to insure pro-
per treatment of foreigners who may
be taken as prisoners of war. At the
same time it is asserted that no basis
exists for supposing that any othe1
course would be pursued.
Orozco is held to be answerable fo7
his Offenses only to the Mexican courts
and therefore should not have been
made the recipient of a diplomatic COM
munication.
Knows Her Business.
After setting forth at length the
clauses of the Washington note, the
minister continued:
In reply and by express instruc-
tions of the president of the republic
L have the honor to say to your ex-
cellencY:
1.-The Mexic-n government has a full
consciousness of it's duties and neither
by its acts nor by the manifestations
of its functionares has it given rea-
son to doubt the sincerity of its de-
termination to cause to be respected
the general accepted principles of in
ternationa law and the rules which
govern the conduct of civilized ma
tions. Your government has recognize
ed this in the note which 1 have the
honor to answer and by means of 9TH
er repeated demonstrations of friend
ship toward the government and the
people of Mexico which demonstra-
tions so highly and so cordially have
been esteemed in this country.
For these reasons, the Mexican gov
eminent finds itself in the painful ne
cessity of not recognizing the right
of your government to make the ad-
mention which the note contains, fo-
the reason that & it is not based On
any incident that should be chargeabe
to the Mexican government and which
could signify that it might have de-
parted from an observance of the pr1n-
ciples and practices of international
law.
In view of the fact that part oil
the country is in state of rebellion
the Mexican government has as its
principal duty the suppression OF the
rebellious movement and If IN the
regions removed from obedience to the
legitimate authorities, attacks are COM
mitted against lives and property OF
foreigners. the legitimate government
of the republic will not be obligated
in this respect except in the same
terms as would the government of the
United States or any other country