Las Vegas optic. (East Las Vegas, N.M.) 1908-1921, 1914-03-07
CAN PROTECT CITIZENS
If NECESSITY ARISES SOLDIERS
MAY BE SENT INTO SIS
TER REPUBLIC
BOTH NATIONS SIGNED IT
BUT THE SENATE, WORRIED BY
PROSPECT OF CIVIL WAR,
LET AGREEMENT DIE

Washington, March Additional
interest in the Mexican situation, both
present and past, was lent today by
the publication Of the details of a
proposed treaty negotiated more
than half century ago between the
United States and the republic Of
Mexico, which, if ratified, would have
authorized the United States ito in
tervene in support Of its own treaty
rights for the security of its own citi-
zens whenever Mexico may be unable
to guarantee the same, without in
curing the obligation or necessity Of
a general intervention in the domestic
affairs of that country"
The treaty had been lying in the
secret archives Of the senate commit
tee of foreign relations since January,
1860. The injunction of secrecy was
removed yesterday by the senate, and
the document ordered printed for the
use of members of that body. The
government printing office force work
ed on the document all of last night
and today senators held before them
fresh copies Of it, which they read
with interest.
The treaty was signed in Vera Cruz
on December IA, 1859, by Robert M.
McClane, American minister to Mex
leo, and M. o. Ocampo, secretary OF
state and foreign affairs Of Mexico,
and shortly afterward transmitted to
the senate by President Buchanan,
but it was never ratified by the Unit
ed States because of confusion Incl
dent to the outbreak of the civil war.
Article 5 Of the treaty reads as fol
lows:
THE republic Of Mexico agrees that
should it become necessary at any
time to employ military forces for the
security and protection Of persons
and property passing over any OF
the routes aforesaid, 1t will employ
the requisite force for that purpose,
but on failure to do this, from any
cause whatever. the government Of
the United States may, with the con
sent of or at the request Of the gov
ernment of Mexico or Of the minister
thereof at washington or the consent
Of legally appointed local authorities.
civil or military, employ such force
for this and for no other purpose; and
when, in the opinion Of the govern
ment OF Mexico, the necessity ceases
such force shall be Immediately with
drawn.
Tn the exceptional case, however
OF unforeseen or imminent danger to
the lives or property OF citizens Of
the United States the forces OF said
republic are authorized to act fol
their protection without such consent
having been previously obtained; and
such forces shall be withdrawn when
the necessity for this employment
ceases
In a communication transmittine
the convention to the secretary Of
state, Lewis Cass, Minister McClane
warned that if-the senate failed to rat
ify the treaty further anarchy would
exist in Mexico necessitating inter
vention. He said
4 am persuaded tHat if the govern
ment Of the United States declines the
responsibility imposed upon it by ad
option and ratification Of this con
vention, further anarchy will prevail
in Mexico until It will be terminated
by direct Intervention from some quar-
ter in the federal politics Of Mexico
or by an Intervention Of our own
caused by some sudden and unfore
seen provocation that win expose u
to the responsibility Of a general war
and conquest that few would desir
to undertake Or consummate"
The fact that this convention wa
drawn up 50 long ago and never rat
fled removes all possibility Of its eve
becoming effective now, but It's pull