The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-01-19
COUNTRY NOT BOUND
DY CONSULAR OFFICIALS
STATE DEPARTMENT PLAIN
Clears Up Several Important Points
In Mexican Embroglio When the
Issue Is Raised by Consul Thomas
Edwards.

Washington. .. c., Jan. 1s.--The &C
ton Of American consular olticisls
on the border in entering into neso-
taations for the safety of Americans
will not be recognized by the o.a1e
Department unless the anthori1stlon
for such action comes direct iio'''
Washington.
The policy of the Government wa
announced by a high off1cial OF cue
State Department today "hen an 70
cue arose an to whether American
consul Thomas Edwards. at Juarez'
had asked the Carranza authorizes 10
guarantee the safety of the train on
which the seventeen Americans muir
dered at Santa Ysabel were travel
ing. 49,
E6wards with reference to the per-
.nra1 safety Of the slain Americans
however, state Department OFFICIALS
expressed the conviction that evil
dence already obtained clearly proved
that the United States can hold Car
rama responsible for the satety Oh
the American victims.
The issue over the assurances re-
~nasted by Consul Edwards arose
from the publication of news dis
matches quoting Edwards a. saying
don of the III fated train at the re-
quest of the State Department. When
asked for an explanation EDWARDS
wired Secretary Lansing that he had
made no mention of the train in his
request. but had requested and been
promised by Carranza authorities pro-
lection for the Gust Mining district.
Clearly States Situation.
In referring to the discrepancy in
the Edwards report, the department Q
position was clearly stated. II was
said that the department ia not bound
by sxy action taken by consular OF
ficialc on their own initiative. Amer-
cans on the border seeking advice or
assistance from American colsuis
were plainly warned by the state De-
partment that they ought 10 find out
on what authority any consul is act
ing before accepting his services.
The State Department today cleared
up several disputed points in the ossti-
cal situation brought about by ths
Sa-rsa Yssbsi massacre.
Watson Had Personal Passport.
Official reports from Collector OF
Customs Cobb at Ell Faso gave what
was accepted as complete proof of
Carransa's responsibility Tor the safety
OF the Americans These reports
showed fflHt +. X. watson. head OF
the party. had g. personal passport
from the Caxranza governor, of Chi
hnshus, and that other members OF
the party had a. general passport is-
ssod by Cerenza immigration Of
f.cissls at IuAreG They showed fur
Their that troops had been sent TO ths
Gust mine by the Chihuahua governor,
and that Watson had been given assu-
rances that 4 was safe TO return with
cat a troop guard Yer the ill-fAted
trGtu.
An Important point wGIioh, IN tho
New Of State Department officials
places added responsibility on The de-
fAoto government, is the tact that the
Geath-train' wHs operated by ern-
rEOrss OF the defacto govaram amt
Northwestern Railroad officials to-
dAy Unclaimed all connection with the
operation OF the train. The line was
ana now is ope~ateG by CArrxnxfstas.
cad 1t is thought that this Is ne small
MEASURE contributed 70 thu Watson
rarty,s be,i&f that 1t would he SAFE.