The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-04-22
CONGRESS TO ACT
ON THEIR CLAIMS
Damages to Americans Done BY
Mexico Subject OF Several
Conferences.
REPORT HAS BEEN MADE
Claimants Are Dissatisfied With
Attitude Taken by Secretary
Knox.
Special to The Times-Dispatch. ]


about TO take action regarding the
claims of American citizens who have
suffered loss of tacir property by the
Mexican rebellion. y short time ago
the House Committee on Foreign AZ
fairs was authorized to consider. with
the Secretary of State. what II any,
steps should be taken towards reim-
busing American citizens for the loss
cs which they had suffered. Several
conferences have been neld with the
state Department regarding the mat
tr, and the committee now is able to
make It's report to the House
In April. 1911. battle was fought
at Aqua Pr!eta. town situated in
Mexico Immediately across the inter-
national boundary line from Douglas.
q city in the then Territory, but now
state OF Arizona. Engaged in this
hat,le, lighting against each other.
were Mexican government troops and
insurrectionists who were seeking to
overthrow the Mexican administra-
hon AS an Incidnt to the battle,
many OF tho shots fred found their
way across the international boundary
line. some of them fatally.
Afterwards. In May, 1911. another
battle was fought between tho Mexi-
can Federal and insurrection forces
at Ciudad Juare1. Immediately across
INC boundary line from FL Paso, Tex,
ana in this engagement shots from
inc MeNicap guns were fired into III
pa*o. wonnding and killing largo
NUMBER or Americans
Force Not Utilized.
Al the scene OF both tbese battles
an American military force was pres
ent sufficient 10 have protected these
americans who were injured but this
military force was not utilized. Tho
resident contented himself with only
warning to tho Mexican government
anu 10 the officers commanding the
.o'ces IN the light not To iujure Amer
!cdhs within United states territory
Following these occurrences tho
american who were thus injured. ana
INC Icgal representative of those who
were killed. prepared their claims
against the Mexican rovern-
nlent FOR dAmaees and present
90 them to Secretary of Stata
Knox, together with their proof
with the request that he present them
70 the Mexican government and press
through diplomatic tchanneis for pay
ment. This the secretary refused to
90 and instead. advised tho claimants
mat the American emba ssy at the citv
OF Mexico would. upon specific reouest
OF claimants. file their claims viii
the Mexican Foreign Office for pre-
sen'ation to the consultative claims
commission Of Mexico. hut with the
distinct understanding that in Pre-
scnt,nE the Glazing TO the Mexican
Foreign Office neither tho embassy nor
the government of the United states
would pass upnl the propricty, equity.
justice or Legality of sucd claims md
tnat these questions world be loft for
i"fther consideration and final deter
m!nation in accordance with tho rule
ana principles of international law
applicable and controlling. when. II at
all. II shall become necessary In con
sider tho question OF formally present
ing the complaints through Diplomatic
channels as a diplomatic claim. Sec
rotary Knox further Informed claim
ants That the American embassy would
40 nothing moro in relation to their
claim than TO present them for f,linx
as oerore stated; that 1t would he rec
essary Tor each claimant either per-
ssndi'y or ny attorney. to take all
otAes needful measures in the prar,-
ises. but that If the parties appearing
oeiore tho commission should be dis
satished with the finding of that tri.
ounai' as approved or modified by tho
MoNican treasury, they might pursro
their judicial remedies in Tho ordt-
nary courts.
Naturally. claimants objected to such
a course OF procedure. They took the
position that they were Injured in tho
United States. and not in Mexico. and
as may mad never submitted themselves
TO Mexican Jurisdiction nor TO Mexican
laws. there was no authority I'm inter
national law 10 require them to 20 to
Mexico. the wrongdoer, for the trial OF
their cases.
Duty Tx Upon Governments.
ina claimants further commended that
t"e uuty turther rests upon this gov
crnment to afford It's people protection
ana Justice; that as II them it has not
ahorueo protection, and In CONSEQUENCE
thcy had been injured. and that 1t
shouid AFFORD them proper and effect
ual means of redress. and that the only
way this can be done in these cases ia
Tor the government itself to invest,-
gate such cases. determine tho amounts
due. and present and press them for
payment as diplomatic claims Because
the claimants cannot sue the Mexican
government in our courts, and for tho
reasons already pointed out, It Is i'm
practicable TO produce the evidence or
TO try them before n Mexican tribunal
Ths committee 7Shicn Investigated
TINS tier is & the opinion that there
Is no principle OF international law
requiring. and thattt would be a, act
or Injustice TO require. theseclaimapts
who were thus injured through no fault
of their own. within their own country.
within the dominion OF their own laws.
TO go to foreign country for the
trial OF their cases before a foreign
tribunal The committee takes issue
with Secretary Knox and thu state De-
partment regarding the methods which
should be pursued in :hc settlement Of
these claims. 1t is also of The opinion.
stripped of tachnicaliIcs and dplo-
matte nIceties, that the Americans who
lost their property as described would
fare very poorly should they proceed
along tho lines suggested by Secretary
Knox. p. III. MCGOWAN.