The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-04-13
Treats American Consul
Merely as Private
Foreigner.
LEADER OF REBELS
is REVIEW GEFUL
Angry Because He Is Not Rec
ognized in Official Capacity,
Ie Seeks to Get Even"
Consul's Mail Held Up
and Requests
Ignored.

Chihuahua Mex. April lc.--Unitod
States Consul Marion Letchn-, Stationed
hero. is not the American consul. as far
as General Pascuai Orozco, command
cr-in-chief OF the rebel army. rs con
cerncd General Orozco made this
statement to-day. declaring that ns the
United states government does not rec
ogni.e the belligerency Of the liberals.
the liberals cannot recognize I.e,cher a
consul Orozco adds that he does not
Xix; the tone of certain COMMUNICATIONS
from Mr. I.etcher.
Mr. Letcher Is merely an american
citizen and entitled to the consideration
VIC grant any foreigner" said General
Orozco.
Sir. Letchcr was not perturbcd visibly
when Informed Of his official ostracism.
and will treat tho general merely as a
Mexican citizen. The official os,racism
includes also lanes |. Long, the United
states consular agent at Parral.
y series Of incidents has led TO this
climax. Since the revolution began
tho consul from time TO time has been
compelled. In the absence OF other au
,hori,y from chihuahua. 10 take up
various matters with Orozco. The lat
ter fr,ttcd under the fact that the cor
SUI did not address him as regular
constituted authority.
Less than 4 week ago rebel band
went through a Mexican Central train
bound frcm chihuahua 10 Juarez and
seized Letters and documents carried
by passengers. among them being con-
siderable matter addressed by the con-
sui to the state Department AT Wash
ing;on MIR Lctchcr protested 10 OroZ-
CO against this act There were sew
'Arai exchanges. and finally the liberal
leader Informed the consul that the
letters had been seized because either
they were stamped with American
stamps or not stamped at all.
insult 20 Rebels.
Orozco declared that the fac, that
mails as conducted By the rebels was
an insult to them. not 10 mention
the fact thar b. using messengers IN
stead OF the mails the rebel govern
meni IN deprived OF lesit!nta., revenue.
In conclusion the consul was In
formed that his letters we're in the
posi-oilicc. and that they were AT his
disposal as soon as no saw II, 10 aflix
oiheial Mexican postage stamps.
Another thing which increased the
tension between Oroxco and Messrs
Letcher and Long was the execution
OF Thomas Fountain. an American SOL
dier iighiing under the leadership Of
General Pancho Villa a. Parral.
fountain was not a spy. but SOL
die:. and Was captured in uniform and
under arms. Notwithstanding this he
was condemned and shot American
citizens attempted to intcrcedc. and
as a last resort Consul Ietcher and
Consular Agent Long delivered a re-
guest, SAID 10 have been signed by
President Taft. for a stay Of execu-
ton until more thorough .nvcstiga-
.ioD could be made
This plea was rejected almost in
stantly. to the great indlgnation OF
American residents IN Parral. Their
protests against an act which thav
declare was against the rules of ali
civiIi2cd warfare reached the ears of
the rebel leader but served only 10
Sincn his attitude. HIS letter to Mr.
@etcnsr today plainly Indicated his
resentment against what he considers
ahdnc interference by Americans. in
rebellion ~ '''c