Evening star., 1919-11-28

lco forthwith releases William y. Jen-
kins. the American consular agent
imprisoned at Puebla, as demanded
by the United States is the course
urged by Senator Sherman of Illinois.
Other senators take the ground
that the Imprisonment of Jenkins
need not be a casus belli, though
they admit that the situation may
bring about war. Still others are
pessimistic over the outlook and be-
lieve that a conflict with Mexico is
inevitable.
Senator Sherman's View.
Senator Sherman, discussing the
case. said today:
IF aught will arouse this admin
istration the Jenkins case should. But
the arrest of a United States consul,
after all, is no worse than the killing
of Americans which has been going
on in Mexico.
"The case calls for immediate ac-
tion by the government of the United
States. Unless Jenkins be released.
the money refunded which he and
his friends were compelled to pay
for his release to the bandits. a proper
apology made to the United States
outrages shall occur. the United
States should intervene in Mexico
both by land and by sea.
Predicts Exchange of Notes.
This will not be done. though. by
the present administration. The end
will be a futile exchange of notes
and the usual fiasco to which we
have become accustomed. We have
become the laughing stock of Europe
and have won the contempt of Mexico
in our dealings with that country.
$50 long as we permit Mexico to
treat American citizens as she has
been treating them, we may expect
outrages similar to that on Jenkins
and the murder Of other Americans
ministration. however. to clean up the
Mexican situation. and to make Mexi-
CO a place in which law and order and
justice may be found.
1.-The treatment accorded to Jen-
kins by Mexico is no worse than 9TH
er outrages committed by Mexico
against Americans during the last
remained in Mexico have done SO at
the risk of their lives. and many Of
them have lost their lives. Their
investments in Mexico. which
they were encouraged to make, are
gone"
Senator King Discusses.
Senator King of Utah, democrat.
"The situation due to the Jenkins
case is seriouS-and it is not serious.
do not think that the Jenkins case
should be a casus belli. 1t may be
that later developments growing out
of the Jenkins episode may lead to
the severance of diplomatic relations
and a peremptory demand for the re-
lease of Jenkins. However. I believe
that Jenkins will give the bond which
the civil courts in Mexico are asking
and that the affair will then be in
a6 6.
certained whether Mexico has vio-
lated any law or international obliga-
ton with regard to Jenkins.
1T looks as though Jenkins was
charged with an infraction Of the
state laws. If that be true, then I do
would be warranted in asking for the
of the state law. If
Jenkins connived with the bandits
who kidnapped him or violated the
laws of Mexico in any way-1 do not
think for a minute that this is true
then Mexico has a right to take the
usual legal steps with regard to him.
would force war.
Action Rests on Inquiry.
'Tf. however, Mexico should be found
guilty, upon investigation. Of. sub
terfuge and attempting to affront the /
of Jenkins, it would lead to an acute
situation and the peremptory demand
for Jenkins release, the landing of
troops and blockade of ports. 1t all
depends upon whether Mexico is act
ing in good faith. If her excuses for
holding Jenkins turn out to be mere
a smoke screen behind
which to show her contempt for the
United States, then the United States
will have to act firmly"
Other senators' Views.
Senator Jones of Washington, repub-
lican:
81 have not looked into the situa-
ton arising out of the Jenkins case
closely, but it seems that trouble with
Mexico is inevitable. Conditions
there, so far as the treatment of
American citizens is concerned, do not
seem to improve"
Senator, Johnson of South Dakota,
democrat:
while it may be that the United
States will eventually have to go into
Mexico and straighten things out
there, I am not sure that the jenkins
case will lead to such action"
Senator Pomerene Of Ohio. democrat:
II do not look for immediate inter-
vention in Mexico or for war with
that country on account of the Jen-
kins case as 1t now-Gtands. 1t may be
that eventually the United States will
have to go into Mexico"