New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-01-18
Guarantee of Safety by
Carranza Officials an
Important Factor.
u. S. MAY DEMAND
INDEMNITY PAYMENT
State Department investigates
Report That Mining Men
Received Passport.
iEton rhs rrihuns R,Ir.sr /


that it had absolvcd Carrsnza from re-
sponsibility in connection with the
murders at santa ISABEL. authorized
the announcement through the STATE
Department to-day that its attitude
toward the Mexican situation had not
been decided on.
IL denied expressly that there -,ss
any foundation for the belief that this
government would be content With
reasonably vigorous attempt to run
down the murderers.
The lack OF evidence Is again tho
cause Of the uncertainty. Officials OF
TIE State Department are all at sea
as 20 whether Carranza guaranteed
safety 20 the. returning mining men.
merely encouraged them or warned
them 10 stay away. This is the ir-t
question 20 be settled. After that The
department will 20 into the question
Of the assurances alleged 20 have been
gwen the murdered men by Consul Ed
wards az JuareZ. and endeavor 20 ind
out just how far the consul went and
. how far he was authorized 70 90 m
: dealing with the matter.
The responsibility Of the United
States government extends only, State
Department officials say, 70 obtaining
from Mexico proper discharge OF her
international obligations. The posi-
bi!lties Of the case, therefore, are two:
II IL is found on examining the
evidence, that Csrrsnza's government
cannot be held liable for the death.
international custom will be served
by sincere attenp. 70 arrest and
punish the offenders.
II. on the other hand. the Mexican
government. by reason OF assurances
of safety given IN advance or because
OF the failure of government authori-
ties 20 take ordinary precautions or
provide ordinary protection IN the
circumstance. is found responsible
for the death of the Americans, Car
rama will be asked not only 70 run
down and punish the offenders bu.
70 pay round sum In indemnitie'.
The possibility Of Intervention b.
thus made TO hinge OH the chance that.
me latter case occurring, Carrsuzs
should decline or fail 20 grant the sai-
sfaction demanded.
Great encouragement. tho ADMINS
tration believes. l. found in the an
pouncement to-day that General Car
rama had offered reward in gold for
the perpetrators Of the outrage TINS
information was contained IN dis
patch from Consul Silliman, together
with confirmation OF tho execution 81
Generals lose Rodriguez and Carlos
Anaya.
4 dispatch received to-day AZ the
STATE Department from the Consul Con
cra at Monterey emphasize rho warn
ings TO Americans 10 keep out OF da1-
gerous districts.
Several DAYS ago the report SAYS,
"thc consulate at Monterey urged the
de fscto government 10 send reinforce
ments 20 Torreon for the protection OF
Americans in that locality, and rein
forcements have been sent. There has
been no Geographic communication be-
taeen Monterey and Durango CITY since
the ID OF January.
II am doing everything possible 20
cct our people ou' OF dangerous ON
tric.s and 10 prevent others from gong
mic dangerous localities. ! believe the
Carrauza government is in earnest in
the matter OF improving conditions snd
preventing further assaults on Amer
cans. but ! earnestly advise all Amerl-
cans 10 remain out 81 dangerous or IN
certain localities IN Monterey and rs
immediate vicinity. Good order pre-
walls in Monterey"
Whether the Csrranzs government N
Mexico - 10 he held responsible ny the
United states for the death OF the
American mining men may depend o.
The outcome Of an investigation Of
circum stantisl story which reached tho
state Department to-day. tatin- me
murdered Americans really had been
assured a safe conduct by Csrran'a su-
thorities
Officials indicated clearly tonight,
however. that the evidence so fsr va
not conclusive aud that no de- ION
would be reached pending tho m isn
inquiry. Thev pointed out also that
should Carranza eventually be hoo -
snonsible. IL would not mean q hr.as
i'm this governments relations with hln.
though II would result IN n demand i"r
indemnity. boz addition 10 punis reH-
of the murderers. already demanded
and promised.
The story came from Collector COBB
AZ FL Psso. whose dispatch repeated
a statement "by person connected
with the companies operating IN Chi
huahua" This informant id that be
fore the departure OF the Americans
from Chihuahua ne nsd DeeN ioia D
{. r. Watson, head of the party and
one of those killed. that the trip had
been arranged after Carrsnza author
ities had given Watson personri
passport and had issued q general pass
nort for the Others. Watson. u wss
said. had been assured that no military
escort was In that region.
The general disposition Of state De
partment officials is TO regard this
story az difficult of proof. 7. n.
Holmes. the only survivor of the party,
has advised the department that II any
safe conducts were granted - was
without his knowledge.
There was no further general oiscu,
sion Of Mexican affairs IN Congres'
to-day. though Senator Gore. Demo
crat. introduced a resolution TO estsb-
lish neutral zone along the border
poiiced by Mexican and United States
troops, and Senator PolndcNter. Re
publican. briefly criticised the admin
STATIONS Mexican policy in the course
OF speech on the Senate floor.
dispatch to-day from American
Consul Sillimsn, at Queretsro, an
bounced that he d. facto government
had offered "a reward in gold" for can
ture Of the bandits who committed The
Santa Ysahal nurders