New-York tribune., 1919-08-15

month. and the preparation Of other
acts in disregard of American lives
and property
Radical Policy" Threatened
The following note, the State De-
partment announced. was presented to
the Mexican government bv Charge
Summerin, of the American Embassy
Mexico City, July %. 1919.
"Sir; With reference to the AM
bassy's note, dated July 16, 1919,
relative to the murder OF Peter
Catron, near Wales, San Luis Po-
tosi, on or about July last, l have
the honor to inform You that I am
now under telegraphic instructions
from my government 10 urge upon
the Mexican government the capt
ure and punishment OF those re-
sponsible for this murder and the
adoption o. adequate measures to
oil American citizens
Il am also instructed to state
that should The iives Of American
citizens continue to remain unsafe
and these murders continue by rea-
son Of the unwillingness or inabll-
ity OF the Mexican government to
afford adequate protection. my gov
ernment may beN forced 20 ADOPT q
radical change in its policy with re-
gard to Mexico.
Accept, sir. the renewed assur-
ances c. =. N,ghest consideration.
GEORGE T. SUMMERLIN,
Charge d'Afaires."
Mexican Reply Received
To this communication the Mexican
government returned the following re-
ply, dated July 2S. signed by Salvador
Diego Fernandez, in charge of the De-
partmen. of Foreign Relations:
"Mr. Charge d'Affaires: The note
which your honor was pleased to
send me on the 22d inst. advised me
of the instructions which you had
received TO notify this department
that il The lives of the citizens of
the United States in Mexico con-
tirued in state of insecurity and
if murders should continue because
of the unwillingness or inability Of
the Mexican government to give ade
quate protection, the government of
the United States would be com
PEELED to adopt radical change in
its policy with regard to Mexico
~
that the fact that offences against
the lives of the citizens of the United
States have occurred in the territory
of the republic cannot be notorious
ly attributed to unwillingness to give
protection. The willingness to fur
nish this protection has been ex-
pressed repeatedly, and the material
difficulties in the way of fulfilling
a promise, supposing that it is not
fulfilled. should not be confused with
unwillingness to do so. especially as
this willingness had been demonstrate
ed by acts.
Difficult Conditions Urged
Moreover, if @ consider the pro-
lection Of humaT life in absolute
terms. that it is to say. if in every
case and wherever citizen of the
United States may be within Mexi-
can territory. he should enjoy special
and effective protection to degree
such that his life may never be placed
in danger it is not possible for the
government Of Mexico to do this be-
cause so perfect a condition OF secur-
ity exists nowhere; with all the more
reason is this true, considering the
great territorial extent of the re-
public. It's scanty population and the
difficult conditions which prevail
after long civil war
"Thc government of Mexico has al
ways endeavored so far as possible
to give full security to the lives of
Foreigners as we'll as of its ma
tionas. but the fact is that foreign
ers. through ignorance. the lack Of
prudence or rash eagerness for profit,
venture to remain or to travel in
dangerous regions. thereby incurring
the risk OF becoming the victims Of
offences ard even trusting to escape
offences because of their being for
eigners.
Identification of Guilty
at should be remembered. more
over. nat always when the govern
mon. Mexico has had knowledge
OF an offence it has pursued the pre-
sumanly ga ~ parties. The pursuit
in such Il cese surely is not the same
As tf.. ci"iaarily made in cities in
the case ~ ordinary crimes. because
the circuM5t9acee are different in a
populoNS Community. In the latter
it is re'a.ivc!y easy to identify the
guilty rartv, while in uninhabited
places the band which committed the
offence in lsc@tad and pursued, is
overtaasa and as many as possible
orc = g u - ttifCNt ESHCTdliy ueluR
able TO deus.fy the really guilty
party. because even within the band
of otFeuders itself 1t is impossible to
determine, as might be supposed,
which 7roiectile OF volley caused
a murder.
"Tne recent Correll case proves
tha. tho Mexican government. fol-
lowing this procedure, which is the
only possible one, is displaying the
greatest activity, because immedi-
ate'y after this murder it was re-
ported forces left in pursuit of the
band and killed four of the villains.
"The Mexican government has been
constantly Dreoccupied with the paci-
tication OF the republic, and as a first
step has destroyed the principal
rebel groups and has conquered the
most notorious leaders, as is demon
strated by the conclusion of the re-
cent Villa movement, the death of
Zapata, of Banquet and Inez Avila,
without mentioning the operations
against groups of minor importance.
necessary consequence of this
PROGRESS in tho labor of pa oifr +ioo