The sun., 1919-10-26
US, ULTIMATUM
INSISTS MEXICO
PAY BIG RANSOM
War Clouds Gather as
Washington Demands
Release of Consul.
ACTION TO BE FORCED
Senate Resolution Demands
Use of Force to Right Insult
to Diplomatic Service.
specia, Despa.oA TO THr sur.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 25@The United
States Government peremptorily has
demanded the return of William o.
Jenkins, American consular agent al
Puebla, Mexico, who has been abb
Quoted by Mexioans and is held for
s150.00o American gold ransom. The
demand has been made on President
Carranza, and the communication from
the American State Department. COM
municated to the Mexican Foreign Of
flee through the American Embassy at
Mexico city. leaves no doubt as to the
determination of the United States to
force action. Carranza is bluntly told
that II necessary he must himself pay
the $780, ransom to effect Mr.. Jen-
kins's release.
The following statement was given
out to-day by Assistant Secretary Of
State Phillips:
The Department Of State has given
instructions to the American Embassy
at Mexico city to insist that the Mex
ican Government definitely advise the
Embassy what action has been taken
with view to the liberation Of William
o. Jenkins, the American Consular Agent
who was robbed and kidnapped at Puebla
and to advise the Mexican Government
that the United States Government ex-
poets II to take effective steps to obtain
he release OF Jenkins unharmed. even
though payment by Mexico of the ran
som demanded be necessary.
Jenkins is understood to be held by
rebels under the leadership Of Fred
erico Cordoba and Juan liberia near
Puebla- At the instance of Cordoba, a
representative of Jenkins's left Puebla
yesterday to confer with Cordoba re-
garding Jenkins's release"
Resolution Goes Over.
Coincident with this announcement
from the State Department Senator
Myers (Dem., Mont) introduced a re-
solution asking President Wilson to
'use all the armed forces of the United
States' In securing the release of Jen-
kins- Senator Myers sought immediate
consideration of his resolution but SEN
ator Smoot tRep.. Utah) objected on
the ground that a matter of such i'm
portance should not be considered hast
lily. The resolution. which will come up
Monday. follows:
Whereas. II is authoritatively re-
ported that so-called bandits have kid
mapped and carried into captivity Will
liam o. Jenkins. American Consular
Agent at Puebla, Mexico. and are hold
ing him for ransom Of $150.000; there
fore be 1t
Resolved by the United States SEN
ate that II is the sense Of this body that
the President of the United States and
the Secretary of War should at once use
all the armed forces and power of the
United States to recover and have i'm
mediately the said Jenkins alive. or
his abductors dead"
Meanwhile. the firm tone of the State
Departments note to Carranza showed
that the United States Government is
not going to temporize with the stu
tion. There Is a tendency to give Car
rama a chance and to accord him the
beneht of the doubt in his protestations
that he Is doing his best to get Jenkins
back. But Carranza Is going to be
judged By the results he achieves. and
the United States Government is going
to act accordingly.
Good Grounds for Action. a.
There appears to be more Significance
to the abduction of this American off,
cial than is on the surface, though the
action of Mexicans and the lack OF pro-
tection afforded by Carransa AFFORD suf-
ficient grounds for action. The United
States Government apparently takes the
view that this wanton abduction Of an
official representing this Government
an affront to the honor and
dignity of the United States which
be overlooked or excused.
The fact that the abductrs, who may
or may not be In the service of Car
rama. specify that Mr.. Jenkins will be
returned safe and sound II $l50,O0o is
has given the State De-
partment here an opportunity to per-
demand that Carranza, who is
for Jenkinss safety. provide
the money and the means for his rescue.
There will be no prolonged discussion
or exchanges OF notes as to whether or
not Carranza will respond to the Ameri-
can demand. He will be given a rea-
sonable time to translate his protesta-
lions of willingness TO help into concrete.
definite action. and II he fails or DELAYS,
the State Department will hold itself
free to follow whatever course II deems
to uphold the honor and dig
nifty Of the nation.
The excuse that bandits and not Car
rsnzista followers are responsible for
the abduction Of Mr.. Jenkins and that
therefore Carranza is not responsible, Is
to the Government Of tie
United States. 1t Is an unheard of
procedure In a civilized country FOR M,
official of a friendly Government 10 be
abducted and held for ransom, and fall
ure Of Carranxa to meet this issue would
be regarded as equal to an admission
that no American diplomats or consular