Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-10-28
DIM SEEKS REFUGE
On j. 5. GDNBOl1
FLEES FROM VERA CRUZ AND
ASKS ASYLUM At AMERl.
CAN CONSULATE.
ESCAPES OVER HousEroPs
WITH TWO COMPANIONS

WITH TWO COMPANIONS
Refusal Of Husrta g AeospG Rsslana-
tion From Army May Bring About
compiieations, Aitho United States
Maintains Naval ofs,esrs Aetsd With.
in Rights In Resolving Diax.
Washington. Dot. 2s.-Rear Admiral
Fletcher. In command Of the squadron
at Vera Cru1, reported the presence OF
Felix Dias and his party on tho gun
boat Wheeling - refugees. In an Off
cial Dispatch received at the navy de-
partnsnt shortly after 1880 a. m.
Tho navy called on tho state depart
ment to decide what disposition II to
be made Of the fuEitivss.
Tho Sunboat Wheeling. because Of
her Light draft, has been held at Vera
CFuz with the single purpose Of af-
fording refuge to political refugees a.
well ~ Americans or other foreigners
who might be In distress. The Wheel
Ing was chosen for that purpose be-
cause she was able to approach the
shore ut Vera Crux, whereas the big
battleships under Rear Admiral
F1etcher's command have boon obliged
to anchor stx miles out
Navy Within Rights.
Officials hero say there In no ques-
ton Of the right Of . naval command
to extend an asylum for such q fugi-
tive a. Diaz, as there have been many
preoedsnts to support the action
In South American countries. es-
pecially In Chile ana Peru in recent
years. whore tho right Of asylum has
been asked. Il has boon found for tho
American representatives to secure
from tho tttular government q pledge
Of safe conduct for the fugittves from
their place Of hiding to tho American
ship.
In the case . Dtax. however. It II
believed the Washington government
was prepared to 60 further and furnish
. marine guard, basing the assertion
Of such apthortty on tho general alle-
CATION 81 tho sxistancs Of state Of
practical anarchy recognized BY inter-
nationaI lawgas . suficisnt warrant q
the exercise Of such precautions
~ 0vYransfssrsd.
Il II presumed that once on the
Wheeling, General Dia5 would soon be
transferred TO one Of the battleships
until he can be transferred to some
merchant steamer bound for another
port
One Of tho possibilities Of the situa-
ton was that the Huerea government
might raise question over the fact
that D1az 10 . general IN the Mexican
army. his resignation recently rendered
to Huerta having not been accepted.
How far such . circumstance might
enter into tho situation was regarded
as interesting, but officials here were
OF the opinion that Consul Canada
and Rear Admiral Fletcher were with
in their rights IN extending asylum to
Diaz 40 q political refugee.
Several messages from Charge
O'Shaughnessy At Mexico City con-
tained no mention Of tho incident
Followed eryan's instructions.
!. General Dias was given asylum In
the American consulate at Vera Cruz
and on the gunboat Wheeling at the
direct instructions Of the American
government. cabled . few days ago BY
Secretary Bryan to Consul Canada in
structing him TO shelter Diaz II his
personal safety was endaneered-
oovesnmsnt's Position.
Tho policy OF the Unitcd States in
recent years has been to guard very
jealousy tho extension OF tho right
OF asylum, and its efforts have been
generally directed toward greatly re-
.trictine such rights. At ono tizno It
vas proposed to secure an interna-
lona1 agreement abrogating the right
AZ asylum to political refugees, but
that movement did not succeed. The
latest position Of tho government .as
now applied to the situation at Vera
Cruz bv Rear Admiral Fletcher 70 laid
down in tho naval regulations % fol.
lows:
'The right Of asylum for political or
other refugees has no foundation IN
international law. In countries, how
ever. where frequent insurreotions oc-
cur ana constant inability Of govern
ment exists usuage sanction the
granting Of asylum but in the waters
OF such countries officers should re-
fuse asylum except in interests OF hu-
manity or In extreme cases such az
pursuit OF refugees by mobs. Officers
should not directly or indirectly invite
asylum"
Asylum for Al.
John Lind has been instructed to Of
fer asylum to any citizen or Foreigners
believed to be in danger. Mr.. Lind
would thus have greater freedom In
the matter than q naval officer bound
by regulations.
Officials here made It plain they
weTe prepared to give refuge to Diaz
az Secretary Bryan recently declared
that the American government would
give asylum to Diax or any other per-
son In danger who asked for 1t. 1t
was pointed out that had former Pres
ident Madero taken refuge in the
American embassy in Mexico City he
would have been protected.
Tho problem Of what to do with
Diax and his friends may be solved, in
the opinion Of officials here. BY per-
hitting them 70 take passage to some
foreign land on . foreign ship. They
probably viii not be permitted to re-
main on the American warship. The
tact that Dias II still an officer In the
Mexican army might complicate the
situations should he eventually take
passage on q commercial ship lying in
: Mexican port.
Aston Was ceneomplatsd.
oAisiaas were convinced that Diaz