El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-01-13

refuses to press their claims. Evident
- the president is stll regsaoll.s Ell. -
friendship Of Mexico as paramount eVl1
IDENTIFY he Is stiI holding TO the opllleA
fhat there was no invasion Of Amerl-
can rights at FL Paso, of any suostan-
rial chara cter'
when the claims were prepared ana
presented to our state depaI lileIt -
Fether with proper proofs TOT ulp- 49,
matte action, the secretary OF STATE -
FUSED TO present and press them AoL
-,ar--ert bv the Mexican government
He merely sent the claimants q printed
circular advising them that the Next
can government had created q consul
tatfve claims commission 10 Try sucn
,~7sf-Ss an5 that II claimants would
make specific request, the American
ernbessv at Mexico City would intorInal-
IN fIle their claims with the MeAle -.
foreign office for presentallon 70 Cnls
commission. but with the distinct un-
za-standfue however, that the arnDas-
zador would be authorized 10 90 noun
ing more than this, and tnat me o4alIn
ants must themselves personally OF ps
attorney, take all otner hesuAul -i0o9
ures in the premises
This printed circular further IN
formed The claimants that by thus IN
formally presenting their clalns' IlS
government OF the United states WOulu
.1of mass upon the prOpriety, justice or
rezaIftv Of such claims. And the CT
cuIar further graciously ADVISED l-e
claimants that II after trying tnelI
cases before this Mexican commission
4hev should be dissatisfied with RE
ffnffnes Of that tribunal as approved CT
modified by the Mexican treasury luey
could then 20 into the Mexican COURTS
and have their cases tried
Oppressive Requirements.
s.rrbus have those unfortunate Ameri-
cans al Fl Paso been treated by our
government They are told to take
fhefr claims and their witnesses q the
CITY Of Mexico, hundreds OF miles as
ant. employ Mexican attorneys, ana
submit their cases &c the court when
the defendant government lLselI hae
created for that purpose, ana whose
proceedings are conducted IN a foreign
language .,,s.,
tne usual delays OF Mexican courts ana
this. together with the enormous eN
pense Of pursuing the course qNecteo
nv the state department, as Wen a. ne
uncertainty Of the outcome OF the Irla4
~ a claim of an American BY the Mex
fcan government against the Mexican
government is more than enough 10
discourage any American from under
taking IT. To those claimants VINO are
noor II amounts to q complete denial
~ Justice.
4sRut suppose some should have the
ha-dfhood TO undertake il, presume
the Mexican tribunal with our presl-
dents official declaration 10 THIS con-
eress that their rights had suffered nc
Invasion OF any substantial Character
Mr.. Speaker, these are no ordinary
claims. and this is no ordinary mat
ter with which we are dealing These
are not cases where citizens OF TINS
country have gone into lorels1 tano
and entrusted their property and per
sons 10 the safekeeping and prouectloh
~ a foreign government
Unusual circumstance
They are cases Of American citizens
fneir lawful. daily occupations, undeI
the protection Of the American nag
and American law and IN the presence
Of the American army. ana may 49,
add that the casualties out q 49, 5I-
these claims grew took place virtually
in the presence Of the man VINO com
rnanded one OF the belligerent forces AZ
the battle OF Juarez. ana VINO IS now
the chief executive Of the Mexican gov
plain Talk. and the Truth.
These claimants had not submitted
themselves to Mexican jurisdiction, ana
they ought not now 10 be required N
INV JUDGMENT TO try their cases IN
Mexican courts, or to have their rights
p, easu-ed OF determined by Mexican
law The infraction OF their llsnts
occurred under American laws, and the
extent o. their wrongs and the amount
~ fhefr damages should be determined
In accordance with American laws ana
-aouId be adjudicste by American au-
thOrity-
No Precedent Found.
sslTr. Speaker, II may be possible thaE
the secretary Of state is supported by
principles Of international law, that ne
NAV have q precedent for this actiUn,
buf II so. I have not found it.
7 venture TO express the BELIEF that
IN ali the diplomatic history OF the
world no case can be found where a
rfTilized nation has ever required one
Of its citizens to go to a foreign tribu-
M Tor the redress of wrongs inflicted
uuon him IN his own country.
suppose American citizens should
have q similar complaint against Chi
ma Would they be directed TO 90 to
China 10 t1y their cases before CHI
nese tribunal2
Plainly Absurd.
Would they have to go 10 Turkey 70
India or 20 Russia for trial If one OF