Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-04-15

woke just resentment by attacks upon
Americans or other foreign persons or
property are working against the best in
terests and the honor of their country.
for which the United States is known to
hold and in the present grave situation
Is manifesting the greatest and most
sincere friendship, and are seeking for
their own selfish ends to burden the
future of their countrymen with heavy
obligations or enormous damages for
their wrongful acts.
How strongly the government of the
United States deprecates even the very
few cases of participation by its citizens
in the present insurrectionary disturb
ances is well known to the people OF
Mexico. as was shown by the President s
proclamation of March and the various
other acts of this government looking
to the same end.
THE government of the United States
must insist and demand that American
citizens who may be taken prisoners,
whether by one party or the other, as
participants In the present insurrection-
airy disturbances, shall be dealt with in
accordance with the broad principles OF
equitable justice and humanity as well
as in accordance with the principles or
international law which may be involved,
and to which the people of Mexico have
given their assent and adherence in
numerous international engagements.
This government must hold the Mex
lean government strictly responsible for
Attitude of Orozco.
Notwithstanding press reports that
certain Mexican officers have announced
a contrary policy the government of the
United States has every confidence in
the disposition of the government of
Mexico in the premises. and must request
that appropriate instructions be imme-
diately issued to the proper military Of
fcers and officials in the sense indicated
fletcher reports receiving letter from
OroZco, which states that III view of nom
recognition of belligerency on the part
of the United States the insurrectfonary
heads would refuse to recognize consular
representatives of the United States. and
that henceforth he should not address
the military leader of the insurrection
on behalf of this government
The department is sending Letcher
copy of the above quoted instructions, Is
with the statement that it sets forth the
attitude which must be assumed by his
government, and directing him to make
further representations as follows:
THE government and people of the
United States have viewed with grave
concern the practical murder under the
positive order of one of your chief lieu
tenants of an American citizen. who
was reported to have been taken prisoner
during or at the end of a regular engage
ment, the prisoner said to have been
dressed in regular uniform and obviously
one of the regular forces of the estab-
lished government of Mexico.
The government of the United States
must insist in so far as the treatment of
American citizens taken prisoners by
whatever force is concerned that the rules
and principles accepted by civilized ma
tons as controlling their actions in time
of war shall be followed and observed,
and the government of the United States
must give notice that any deviation from
such course, and. indeed, any maltreat-
ment of any American citizens, will be
deeply resented by the American gov
eminent and people and must be fully an
swered for by the Mexican people.
Action Is Inhumanity.
'You will also call this to the atten-
ton of the Mexican authorities, and will
at the same time point out that press
reports received here state that Gen.
Villa has threatened that if Orozco muir
ders American citizens taken prisoners
from the federals he will retaliate by
numbering American citizens taken pris-
oners from the rebels. You will, while
pointing out the utter inhumanity of
such action, call attention to the fact
that retaliation, if it be invoked by the
federal forces. should certainly never be
used against American citizens.
You (referring to the consul at Chi
huahua) will Immediately, informally and
unofiicially, present this matter to Orozco.
according to above instructions, and you
will at the same time point out that, be-
ing an American CONSUL charged with the
protection of American citizens and in
terests in Mexico. and holding an exequa-
tur from the Mexican government, as
representing the Mexican people, you are
instructed by your government, informal
ly, to say that you must continue to ex-
ercise your functions and to make rep
reservations whenever occasion demands.
HUNTINGTON WILSON,