South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-08-15


partment announce. was presented
90 The Mexican government ly
Charge Summerlin % the American
embassy
Mexico City JULY -. 1919
"Sir With reference 20 the em-
bassys note. dated Jub rs. 1915.
relative 20 the murder o. Peter
Catron. near Wales. San Luis Po-
tosi. on or about JULY Ith last.
7 have the honor 20 inform you that
I am now under teleuaphic IN
structions from ms government 20
urge upon the Mexican government
the capture and punishment of
those rerponsfble for this murder.
and the adoption of adequate
measures 20 prevent 90 recurrence
OF the murder 81 American citizens.
81 am also instructed to state
that should the lives Of American
citizens continue 20 remain unsafe
and these murders continue by rea-
son u the unwillingness or iuabil-
ltv n the Mexican government 10
afford adequate protection. my gov
eminent may bee forced 20 adopt a
radical change in it's policy with
regard 20 Mexico.
Accept. sir. the renewed ASSURE
ances Of my highest consideration.
(Sigred).
GEORGE IT. MMERLIN
Charge Affairs.
Mcxic0's Reply
To this communication the Next
can government returned the follow
ing reply dated July 2S. signed by
Salvador Diego Fernando iu charge
of the department Of foreign rela-
tious.
MIR Charge Affairs. The note
which your honor was pleased TO
send me ON the twenty-secoud i'm
slant. advised me Of the instruction
which you had received 90 notify
this department that if The lives Of
the citizens Of the United States in
Mexico continued IN state of i'm
security and n murders should CON
tinue because OF the unwHlingness
or inability OF the Mexican govern
ment 90 give protection the govern
mcnt OF the United States would be
compelled to adopt a radical change
i'm its policy with regard 20 Mexico.
In reply Z have the honor 10
state that the fact that onenscs
against the lives Of citizens Of the
United states have occurred I'm the
territory OF the republic cannot Doe
VIGOROUSLY attributed 10 unwilling
ness 20 give protection The will
ingness 10 furnish this protection
has been expressed repeatedly and
the material difficulties in the way
u fulfilling promise. supposing that
it is not fulfilled, should not be con-
fused with unwillingness 10 do so.
especially as this willingness had
bee, demonstrated by acts
Moreover. IL we coz en- the pro-
lection Of human IRE in absolute
terms. that is 90 say, 81 i'm every
case and wherever a citizen of the
United States may be within MeNi-
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 10 do
this because So perfect condition
OF security exists nowhere With al
the more reason is this true. con-
sidering the great territorial extent
of the republic it's scanty popula-
lion. and the difficult conditions
which prevail after a Ions civil war.
Protects Natives.
THE government Of Mexico has
always endeavored as far as possible
10 give full security 90 the lives of
foreigners. as wei as of its natives.
hut the fact IS that foreigners
through ignorance, the lack of prud-
ence. or rash eagerness for profit
venture 20 remain or 20 travel I'm
dangerous regions. thereby iuCurr-
ing the risk OF becoming the victims
of ofenses and even trusting 20 es-
cape Ofenses because of their being
foreigners
~ IhOuld be remembered, more
over. that always when the govern
ment OF Mexico has had knowledge
OF an ofeSse IL has pursued the pre-
sumably guilty parties. The pursuit
IN such a case surely is not the same
as that ordinarily made in cities in
the case OF ordinary crimes because
the circumstances are different In a
populous community In the latter
10 Is relatively easy 90 identify the
guilty party while in uninhabited
places the band which committed the
offense IS located and pursued. IS
oVertalsn and as many as possible
are killed without generally being
able 70 identity the really guilty
party. because even within the band
OF offenders itself IL is impossible %
determine as might be supposed
which proJectile OF a vOlley caused
a murder The recent CorrelI case
proves that the Mexican government,
following this procedure. which i.
the only possible one. is displaying
the greatest activity because inn
medlateiy after tins murder was re.
ported forces left IN pursuit OF the
band 49, killed four OF the villains
The Mexican government Ia.
been constantly preoccupied with the
Iacidcation OF the republic and as a
first step has destroyed the personal
rebel groups and has conquered the
most notorious leaders ass is demon
s-rated los the conclusion Of the re.
cent Villa movement The death OF