The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1914-04-23
NATIONAL HONOR OF
MEXICO IS AT STAKE,
MINISTER EXPLAINS
Dictator Appears Indifferent to Crisis
in His Affairs, Spending Evening
Listening to a Band
Concert.

Mexico City. Special: Portillo y
Rojas. minister of foreign affairs, in
announcing that it would be impossible
to agree to the demand OF the United
States hat the flag of that country be
Internationally saluted, gave out the
following statement:
"On the ninth of the present month,
between II n noon, a boat without an
American flag and with nine marines
n one officer landed at a point called
the Beach of Iturbide in Tampico. Col.
Raymond Hinojosa, who has charge or
defending that point, detained the ma
rines and officer n conducted them
to the presence of the general who had
command of the fort, Ignacio Morelos
| Zaragoxa.
'It should be remembered that at
this time the port not only was under
military control but w~ithstandins an
attack by rebels.
Gen. Zaragoza Immediately and
without even investigating the case,
put the marines and the officer at lib
erty, placed Hinojosa in prison and
sent an apology to Rear Admiral Mayo,
the commander Of the American fleet.
w thought the Incident was closed,
but unfortunately this was not so be-
cause Mayo sent to him some time
afterwards an uitirnatum in which he
asked that a second apology be pre-
sented to him by the staff OF the chief
of the fort, General ZaragoZa; that the
American nag re hoisted at a public
place in Tamplco and saluted by q
guns and besides, the severe punish,
ment of Hinojosa STIMULATING that ali
this be within "a hours
Tells of Inquiry.
"The term was later extended when
diplomatic pour parleers We're begun
between the sub-secretary OF foreign
affairs In Mexico, the minister being
absent at that date, and continued
until now.
THE president of Mexico. when in
formed OF the case. ordered an inVesti-
cation OF the facts and the punishment
OF the guilty officer, if it was proved
he was blameworthy. He also author
lied the minister of foreign affairs to
express regret on acccunt Of the Incl
dent when he became aware that the
American government supported the
request OF Rear Admiral Mayo relative
to a salute OF the American flag which
had not been insulted, he opposed to
show his good will toward the Amer
lean people though he did not think
that such a request was just, proposing
that. III flags Of the two nations be
hoisted and saluted reciprocally and
simultaneously.
THE American government did not
agree with that idea. but insisted on
Rear Admiral Mayo's request giving
assurance that in accordance with in
tefnational practice the salute woul be
y ~ iAA 80 NAA
swer to the salute of the American flag.
This was not accepted by President
Huerta, who insisted on his proposition,
"Then the American government de-
brought to an end by the final decision
of President Huerta within a term
which expired at 6 o'clock last night, an
%nouncing chat if by that time he had
not agreed to the salute Of the Amer
lean flag as requested the affair would
l he nresenfa6 to the American ngr
| for decision.
THE Mexican government believing
that the salute in question was of no
Importance unless previously and for
mally agreed on by both parties. pro-
posed the signing OF a protocol n the
minister of foreign affairs presented
last night a draft of such protocol to
the American charge d affaifes, Nelson
O~'ShaughneSsy.
"O'Shaughnessy answered a he
must consult his government: that he
would advise the minister Of the nature
Of this answer and this afternoon he
communicated to the minister the fatt
| that his government did not accept the
idea Of a signature OF any protocol
whatever. but wanted an unconditional
salute Of the American flag.
Would HumiIiate Mexico.
This the Mexican government re-
fused, feeling it has done a.ll possible,
in view Of the friendly understanding
between the two governments and be-
1ievfng the acceptance OF such an i'm
position would be equivalent to yielding
Mexico to humiliation.
THE Mexican government is conf
dent that the civilized world will find
its conduct has been wise and temper
ate, that it has observed all the re-
quiTements OF international law and
that the refusal to yield further is in
sp1red only by a regard for its honor
and dignity
The draft of the protocol by Mexico
refused signature by the United States
follows:
With a view to putting to an end
the lamentable incident which occurred
on the 9Th instant at Fort Tampico.
caused by the detention Of nine men
and n American officer, considering
that such marines Were Immediately
put at liberty by General Zaragoza
commander at Fort Tampico and that
said officer presented an apology to
Rear Admiral Mayo, commander Of the
American squadron in those waters:
that afterwards when the president of
the republic of Mexico became adj
vised OF the facts he expressed regret
through the officials of foreign rela-
tons for the incident and ordered that
a fuI investigation be made to the
that the guilty might be punished
II any be found guilty; and finally that
the action in question was due to the
z~ealousness OF a subaltern which might
be regarded as e~xcusable il it is taken
INTO consideration that the marines
when detained had gone ashore in uni
form without permission OF the military
authorities the port being at the mo-
naent. not only in a state Of war but
under attack by rebels. The charge
d~'affairs OF the United States and the
minister OF foreign relations of Mexico.
acting in their official capacities agree
as follows:
First that the Mexican government,
inspired by a desire OF showing the
good will 1t feels toward the people of
the United States and acting In the
same manner wherein the United
States has done in similar cases, binds
itself that the American flag be saluted
at Tampico by q gun from the Mexi-
Marchioness ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS has
valued at over ST. 900, to the Paris
Louvre.
Instead of the regrilat;on 1yhi+a