New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-10-04
To the Editor of The Tribune.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: have received from an American
friend in Mexico letter extracts from
which show under what conditions Ameri-
cars are now living in that country, aban-
doned, so far as any care on the part OF
our State Department is concerned.
New York, Sept. %, 1916. J. A. B.
at may amuse you somewhat TO know the
circumstances under which Americans are
living IN this country. Officially We are not
bothered, except by our own State Depart
ment, and for two months back have been
abandoned by that department-to our great
relief This may sound queer to you, so |
will exp ain a little.
IL returned to Mexico in May. | had
Just arrived at San Geronimo, which is on
the Pacific slope of the Isthmus of Tehuan-
tepec when we received telegram trans
mi.ted by the English Consul in charge Of
American affairs here, signed Lansing
stating that all Americans in this district
were urgently required or requested to leave
the country at once by Pacific Mail Line
boat. The telegram gave name of boat
and day of sailing from Saina CRUZ This
boat never came to Salna Cruz, and those
Americans who went to meet it were some
what disguised with the State Department
"a few weeks later another telegram was
sent around stating again that it was most
necessary for all Americans to get out, and
again giving the name of boat and day OF
sailing. This boat also never turned up at
Salina Cruz. And the remarks Of the Amer
leans who had broken up their homes and
waited ,or a week or so at Salina Cruz might
have been heard clear to Washington.
"A few weeks later another telegram
signed Lansing, was sent to the various
Americans here, stating that the State De-
par,ment understood that there were several
hundred Americans in this district that mad
disregarded the previous warnings OF the
Secretary of State, and oil Americans were
to understand that if they did not get out
Of the country at once upon receipt OF this
last warning the State Department refused
to be responsible for their protection IN
the future The Lord knows that the State
Department never gave US or any Americans
any protection in this country other than n
| cable message to get out or the country
So now we are getting along quite well and
have not been bothered by any messages
for two months. The Americans here may
be pardoned for having some doubts as TO
the efficiency of our State Department as
constituted at present, and most OF them
would like to see a change at Washington
Apparently it couldn't be change for the
worse.
"On the Atlantic slope our officials were
apparently more successful. They pulled
mort of the Americans until they drove them
out of the City of Mexico and Vera Cruz
Last month I had occasion to go to Mexico
CITY. AM met many Americans who were re-
turning from their round trip The Amer
lean government took them out of Vera Cruz
and landed them at Tampa, charging them
40 cents day for their board and lodging
There they were left to their own resources.
unless they declared under oath that they
were entirely without resources, when the
government furnished transportation and
subsistence to their homes, II they had any
"Many Americans simply took the train
for tho Mexican frontier and crossed at La
redo or Fl Paso and returned to their homes
or work IN Mexico.
1.-THE military authorities placed no OBJ
stncles ia their way, and they passed the
frontier freely without passports Of any
kind You will note that you cannot even
purchase a ticket for Mexico in New York
without a passport.
However, we are oil officially abandoned
by our country at least by our State De-
partmont and consequently are greatly i'm
pressed by the pictures in the illustrated
papers Of the President with a flag over his
shoulder marching In the preparedness
parade; MISC about his remarks on vigorous
Americanism. But haven't seen any re-