The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-12-02
CARRANZA .BLUNTLY CHARGED WITH AN EFFORT ID BECLOUD TIE PRESENT ISSUE
Mexico's Plea of Judicial Reasons for Not Releas- ing Consular Agent Mere Excuses Says
 American Note
By Associated Prvss


 Washin ton, December L. The governments note to Mexico, made public here to- day at the hour of it's delivery in Mexico City, renews the re- quest for the immediate re- lease of William o. Jenkins, the American consular agent imprisoned at Puebla, and bluntly charges Carranza with attempting to becloud the is- sue.
 In the sharpest language yet ad- dressed to the Carranza government, and probably more pointed than one government usually addresses to an- other in formal diplomatic commun- ication, the United States says it re- gards Mexico's plea of judicial reasons for not releasing Jenkins as mere ex- cuses." and gives notice that it will not be drawn away from the main facts and into discussion of "irrele- want and unimportant matters"
 The attitude of the Carranza government Is that Mexico has sought to divert the attention to the American people and the Mex ican people as well from the fact
 that Puebln, second largest city in Mexico, is Overrun by bandits, while the civil authorities arc neg liaent.
 No ultimatum was served. and no time was given in which this govern- ment expects Jenkins to be released, and neither was there any statement in the note as to what the course of the American government would be if the renewed request for his release is de- nied
 U. s. MEANS BUSINESS
 After a conference with Secretary Lansing late today, Chairman Porter of the House foreign affairs committee expressed the opinion that the state department means business this time. Chairman Porter indicated that he was in thorough accord with the govern menfs present policy in dealing with the Mexican situation.
 Chairman Porter was with Secretary Lansing for half an hour discussing the Mexican situation in general and later appeared hopeful of a solution of the trouble.
 '"rhe danger to the United StateN of this condition of continual unrest and feeling of hostility toward us in Mex yico.' Mir Porter said, flies in the fact that 1t provides fertile field for anti / American propaganda and even for a base for attack upon the United States f<~a ion rx cffRNfp6 a combination with Mexico.
 By this the spirit, if not the letter, of the Monroe doctrine would be vio- lated
 Property rights have been violated and the Mexican courts have declared constitutional the confiscatory provis- ions of the Mexican fundamental law against which we have taken strong stand.
 q have a copy of the Mexican courts decision in this matter.
 If we permit the property rights o1 our nationals in Mexico to be thus vio- lated. where can we stop? Suppose Brazil and Argentina and Germany and other nations adopt such a confiscatory law. Our interests abroad would he wiped out.
 "For three years or more I have
 been firmly convinced that either
 amicable fcrceful intervention
 in Mexico by the United States is
 inevitable. I have heard nothing
 here that leads me to change my
 mind.
 ~And wish to say that am con vinced that the state department meani business this time. I also believe tha when the state departments firm stant
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