The Raymer enterprise., 1919-12-04
carranza Refuses 10 Release
Jenkins and HostiIities With
Mexico lmpend.
ARMY AND NAVY ARE READY
Governments Efforts to End Coal
Strike by Negotiation Fail, Min
ers Rejecting carfield's Offer
Of n Per Cent Wage In
crease.
By EDWARD w. PIckARp.

It appears at this writing that the
breaking point with Mexico has been
reached at last--or should one say
again? Carranza's government, defy
Ing the United States. has fatty re-
fused to release Consular Agent Jenk-
ins In response TO the demand made
by our state department. Since that
demand was in the nature Of an ulti-
matum. threatening unpleasant con-
sequences. II would seem either Wash
ington or Mexico must back water. or
hosfilities will result.
The Mexican foreign Office said the
demand Of the United States was not
based on any legal foundation or prin-
ciple OF international law: that the
executive department cannot under
Mexican law intervene now In an affair
that is strictly In the hands of state
courts: that the Imprisonment OF Jenk-
ins was neither arbitrary nor unjusti-
fed. and that he Is preventing his own
freedom by refusing to give bail. Mex
ico's assertion that jenkins. as a con-
sular agent, was not immune from ar
rest Is not contested In Washington.
but Secretary Lansing has stated that
his department has more Information
bearing on this case than has been
made public. and presumably II Is this
information that led to the demand
for the release Of jenkins.
Reports from Mexico that have come
through official channels show that the
Mexicans have done all possible to dis
credit jenkins. The court at Puebla re-
fused to hear witnesses who would re-
flute the story that he was seen In
conference with members of the gang
that kidnapped him: and according 10
the correspondent of newspaper Of
Mexico City. number Of poems de-
clared the judge and police inspector
had exercised pressure on them to tes-
tify against Jenkins.
1t was believed In Washington that
the administration would maintain its
nrm stand in the crisis. Otherwise.
eaid the well-posted. congress would
bake up the matter promptly after con-
gening. call for all the facts In the
ease and proceed to frame definite
policy. In both house and senate. II
ras asserted. the great majority was
( b favor Of showdown with Carranza.
vho for years has fiouted the United
tates and In innumerable ways dis
Mayed his open hostility. There Is no
forgetting or forgiving his attitude and
kctions during the war. which the gov
Fnment knew all the time and with
Ehich the public is becoming better ac-
painted every day.
Should armed Intervention he nee-
5ary, we are In good condition for
tck action. for the army has had
if possibility In mind for some
Dnths. Along the border these forces
e now available. Both wings Of the
iation service. including Is aero
uadrons. ten balloon companies. five
giments OF field artillery, ten Of the
regiments OF cavalry remaining In
2 army organization. three regi-
ents Of engineers. one brigade of In
ntry. with four within calling dis
nee In the central department. 10
btor transport companies. one field
ttalion and two telegraph battalions
the signal corps. % or more pack
ains and all the additional force Of
|pply to care for an army Of that size.
The marine corps Is ready for the
pergency. and 80 Is the navy. With
5leet in the Pacific as well az the
lAntlc. forces could be landed on
b coasts. II the navy needs more
q the reserve force can be called on.
that includes large part Of the
ra personnel In service during the
ssIdes looking on the arrest Of