Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-08-15
U. S. TO CHANGE POLICY
TOWARD MEXICO IF
ORDER is NOT RESTORED
CONTINUED from Page one.)

me on the 22nd instant, ADVISED me
Of the instructions which you had
received to notify this department
that if the lives of the citizens of the
United States in Mexico continued in
state of insecurity, and if murders
should continue because of the un-
Willingness or inability Of the Mexican
government to give adequate protec-
ton, the government Of the United
States would be compelled to adopt
y radical change in its policy with
regard to Mexico.
In reply, l have the honor 70
state that the fact that offenses
against the lives of citizens of the
United States have occurred in the
territory of the republic cannot be
VIGOROUSLY attributed to unwilling
ness to give protection. The willing
ness to furnish this protection has
been expressed repeatedly and the
material difficulties in the way Of
fulfilling q promise supposing that
/. is not fulfilled, should not be con-
fused with unwilingness to- do so,
especially as this Willingness had been
demonstrated by acts.
More over, if we consider the
protection of human life in absolute
terms, that is 20 say, if In every case
citizen of the United States may he
within Mexican territory he should
enjoy special and effective protection
to a degree such that his life may
never be PLACID in danger, it is MOI
possible for the government of Mex
leo to do this because so perfect Il
condition of security exists nowhere;
with all the more reason is this true
Grin ha
tent Of the republic, its scanty popu-
lation and the difficult conditions
which prevail after a long civil war.
Foreigners Are Blamed.
1.-The government of Mexico has
always endeavored as far as possible
to give full security to the lives Of
foreigners as we'll as of it's nationals,
but the fact is that foreigners, through
ignorance, the lack of prudence, OF
rash eagerness for profit, venture 70
remain or to travel in dangerous re-
gions, thereby mourning the risk of
becoming the victims of offenses and
even trusting to escape offenses be-
cause of their being foreigners.
cit should be remembered that al
ways when the government of Mexico
has had knowledge of an offense it
has pursued the presumably guilty
parties. The pursuit in such a case
surely is not the same as that ordi-
narily made in cities in the case of
ordinary crimes, because the circum-
stances are different In a populous
community. In the latter, it is rela
lively easy to identify the guilty party
while in uninhabited places the band
which committed the offense is To-
,A1 10 tpl md
as many as possible are killed with
out generally being able to identify
the really guilty party, because even
within the band of offenders itself 1t
is impossible to determine, as might
be supposed which projectile of a
volley caused a murder. The recent
Correll case proves that the Mexican
government following this procedure,
which is the only possible one, is dis
playing the greatest activity because
Immediately afer THIS murder, it
was reported forces left in pursuit
of the band and killed four of the
Villistas.'
THE Mexican overnment has been
constantly pre- occupied with the pa
cifiCation of the republic and as a
first step has destroyed the principal
rebel groups and has conquered the
most notorious leaders, as is demon
strated by the conclusion of the recent
Villa movement the death of Zapatd,
of BlanquG under villa, without
mentioning the operations against
groups of minor importance. A nee
essary consequence of this progress in
the labor pacification is the eXis-
tonce of some bands, the weak re-
mains of the large groups.
Animated by Good Intentions.
The Mexican government has been
and continues animated by the best
of intentions to eliminate all those |
which might disturb it's
good relations with the government of
the United States and has so proved
on repeated occasions. If the govern |
ment of the United States wishes it's /
citizens to enjoy greater protection,
the Mexican government anxiously |
desiring as ever a good understanding
between both governments. suggests
the deSirability that citizens of the |
United States concentrate in the pop
ulous places, where complete guar
antees may be offered them, and that
these citizens, when they find it nee
essary to visit the dangerous zones,
request sufficient forces for their pro-
the Mexican authorities.
I'm the Tampico region the pay
of the petroleum companies
have been offered escorts to accom-
pany them for the transportation of
funds, and the companies have re-
fused on the preteXt that the presence
of the escort precipitates the attack
of the rebels. or that the individuals
of the escort do not conduct them
selves properly. These are unfounded
assertions
Moreover, the relation which has
existed between those same petroleum I
and the rebels is notorious,
it being also suspected that there may
have been cases in which the paymas-
tiers We're in accord with the supposed
ASSISTANTS, The Mexican government,
in order to demonstrate once more
its willingness to furnish complete
protection, has already formally
promised they will reimburse the
sums which may be taken from the
paymasters, notwithstanding the pres
ence of the escort. and if this last Of
fer is not accepted the consequences
will be the exclusive fault of these
same interested parties.
Il believe ! have made clear the
true situation and the possibility of
the Mexican government giving Gaily |
increasing means of protection to life
and property as 1t evidently has done, (
and its undeniable desire to secure
every class of guarantees within the
national territory, In view of these
facts, the menace embraced in your
note has surprised the Mexican gov
eminent, all the more so since it |
seems strange that 1t should be exact
ed that even in depopulated regions |
human life should be protected in a |