Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-04-09

proposal to bring about certain condi-
lions in Mexico.
The congressman. in all innocence,
brought his influence with the depart
ment to bear in assisting the scheme OF
his friend, but when the plan had been
put to the acid test in the Mexican divi-
sion. and the whole affair investigated
it proved that the man in question had
been promised big reward by one OF
the factions if he accomplished his
purpose.
All OF which is rather in contrast TO
the distinctly ludicrous statement OF
middle west correspondent. who wrote
a long letter to the State Department,
which began: although ] am only
carpenter. with both legs Off. I want to
give the department the benefit of
some advice on the Mexican situation"
His letter had to be answered, of
course.
In line with the more solid questions
referred to the division are those which
touch upon the advisability of invest
ments in Mexico. At the present time
ing Americans to stay out of Mexico. but
1t strongly advises against the placing
Of investments there until such time as
conditions become more settled.
Not long ago the division received
letter from the Department of Com
merce asking whether it would he adj
visable to send agents Of that depart
ment into Mexico to report on CONNER
cial conditions. On the advice of the
division. this plan was abandoned for the
time being. Only Americans. who
should enter the country at this time.
the division believes. and even such
persons go at great risk.
One of the extremely interesting and
important functions of the division OF
Mexican affairs is passport supervision
Very few persons are carrying pass
ports into Mexico at this time, for the
good and sufficient reason that the State
Department will not issue them, unless
the need be shown as urgent and alto
gether necessary. The importance of
the Mexican affairs divisions advice to
the passport bureau concerning certain
applications cannot be overestimated.
Assuming that an American citizen
wishes a passport to travel through GER
tain parts Of the country which are
known to be dangerous, the Mexican af-
fairs division tells the passport bureau
of the dangers of such district, and on
the strength of this warning the depart
ment usually refuses to accept RESPONSE
bility for the welfare o. Individual
Furthermore, the applicant may have
been a former traveller or resident in
Mexico, and he may. In some manner
have become extremely distasteful to
the authorities of certain localities
This would also initiate against the
issuance of a passport Residents along
the United States Mexican border, how
ever, rarely ask for a passport. They
frequently go into Mexico against the
advice of the State Department. and
when they get into difficulties through
lack of proper credentials the depart
ment then has the task of doing what 1t
can to obtain their release.
Very frequently the department is
queried by individuals in the United
States concerning the legality, under
Mexican and American laws of some
enterprise they wish to conduct or
some claim they wish to present in
Mexico. Matters of distinctly legal
turn are referred to the solicitor of the
State Department. and are usually &C
companied by a recommendation of the
division of Mexican affairs, pointing
out the opinion of the division in the
case at issue. The opinion of the divi-
sion, in such cases. concerns solely the
advisability of the enterprise or claim
contemplated, and Is not binding in
any sense. 1t is nothing more than
advice.
Several times within the past few
years the President of the United
States has issued a formal statement