The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1919-11-24
MEXICO
TO SEND
ANSWER
Reply to American Note De
manding Release Of Jen-
kins is Expected To-
day or Tomorrow.
PROBABLY BE EvAsIvE
Government Believes MexIcans viii
Release Prisoner and Make
Apology for
Arrest.
PROBABLY BE EvAs1vE

!
/ UNITED Press Leased Wire Service. ]
reply to the American note demanding
release of William o. Jenkins, United
States consular agent imprisoned at
| Puebla, is expected to be placed be-
| fore Secretary Lansing today or to-
morrow. 1t was learned at the state
department today. It was reported
/ that the Mexican answer would be
evasive and that release OF Jenkins
would be refused on the grounds that
/ he is alleged to have conspired with
Ianti-Carranza rebels. This government,
! however, still believes the Mexicans
will release Jenkins and possibly
make an apology. it was, learned.
| At the Mexican embassy, after re-
ceipt OF messages from Mexico City
which were said to have asbearing on
| the jenkins case, it was said no crisis
existed and that none would devel-
lop from this episode.
Public Not Highly Excited.
l[By Ralph H. Turner. United Press
Staff Correspondent
i MEXICO CITY, Nov. 23.-The Mexi-
can public apparently is keenly inter-
ested in the case of William o. Jen-
kins. American consular agent impris-
oned in Puebla on technical charge
of false declarations, but it is not
highly excited, either regarding his
impriso onment or the attitude of the
United States.
While realizing that the American
note demanding jenkins release
leaves no doubt as to it's meaning,
the public generally seems to view it
as only one of the many emphatic
notes from the United States--consti-
tuting no feature in Mexican-Ameri-
can relations. But there are some
persons who hold the opinion that
with peace nearing conclusion, the
United States is in a position to turn
it's attention to Mexico. The official
attitude here seems to be a prefer
ence for keeping the incident local
rather than permitting it to become
an international issue. This is illus
trated by the expressed sentiment that
the case rests with the state Judiciary
and that the federal government has
no right to intervene. Extreme ma
tionalistic elements even take the
view that the American note is inter-
ference in judicial administration.
On the contrary, American circles
here contend that any difficulty III
yolving consular or diplomatic agents
should be handled by the federal
rather than the state courts.
One newspaper-of secondary stand
ing-comments on the affair. the 9TH
ers obviously awaiting publication
Of the reply 10 the American note.
There is no Indication when this will
be made.
Many Mexicans ask why Jenkins
does not afford himself of the oppor-
tunity to furnish bail. limiting that he
is seeking "martyrdom."
Second Secretary Hanna, OF the
American embassy is now in Puebla
collecting evidence for Jenkins against
testimony of the poems that they saw
him on his estate during the period
he is alleged to have been in the
hands of his bandit abductors.
FeeIer Sent Out.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 24.-What Is
regarded as "feeler from the Mex
ican government to test Americas
temper in the latest crisis was put
out today in Washington.
Word was spread that unofficial
adyices from Mexico City Indicated
Carranza, in his reply to the United
States note demanding immediate re-
lease of William O. Jenkins, consuleI
agent, will take the stand he is not
entitled to diplomatic immunity and
therefore cannot be set free at once.
According to this information, the
Mexican answer will take 1t for
granted this government was misin-
formed about the Jenkins case; that
it is one for the Mexican courts to
settle and that the American must go
on trial on charge or collusion with
bandits.
The Mexican cabinet met Friday to