The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-11-24
MEXICAN NEGOTIATIONS
REMAIN At STANDST|LL

Washington, Nov. 3s--Presiden'
Wilson may call the attention OF con-
greas TO the Mexican situation in the
event the case of Consular Agent
William c. jenkins remains an acute
issue between the state department
and tho Mexican foreign once AT the
time of the converting Of congress.
Both the state department and the
Mexican embassy today were silent
concerning the, developments which
have come In the wake OF the arrest
and Imprisonment OF the American
diplomatic agent by Mexican author
tiles at Puebla, who have charged
him with conspiring with bandits to
defrnud the Mexican government out
OF $4,000 In ransom money.
Notwithstanding the fact that the
American government has informed
Carranza that Jenkins is innocent
OF any such charge and has uneduiv-
ocally demanded his release. the
American agent. so far as Is known
here Is still in Mexican peniten~
tiary.
Tho state department is already
committed to drastic action because
the terms of the demand for his re-
lease are capable of no other con-
struction than Immediate obedience.
In this respect the issue Ii clear-cut
and either Carranza or the state de-
partment must surrender its position,
II the matter dwadles along until
December Il is probable that the
president may make some reference
TO II in his message or that indie
pendent action will be forthcoming
from congress % demonstrated today
By the news of reported state
ment by rnernbe OF the senate sub
committed investigating the Mexican
situation that Carranza, in the Jen-
klns' case is attempting 10 pick
quarrel with the United states-
Congress also has manifested
special interest in the Jenkins case
hy resolutions introduced but not yet
passed asking the state department
for all Of it's information on the sub
iect
The Information which the state de-
partment would send would include a
record OF everything IL had pertaining
to the arrest OF the American agent
along with the text. II possible. of the
diplomatic correspondence which has
passed between the two governments
The last note Of the United States to
Mexico was given OUT cHiS III pdFA
phrase.
Previous administrations have dealt
with South and Central American ma
tons that have refused to settle diplo-
rratically differences with tho United
states In somewhat summary fashion.
4 case In point Is that OF Venezuela
during tho tine fhen Elihu Root was
secretary of state. Venezuela was
refractory. continued 10 send unsats-
factory answers to the state depart
nent. which was attempting to learn
details OF the treatment OF certain
American interests in that country and
finally. Secretary Root bundled up ALI
or the correspondence and sent Il down
TO the senate for action, Senator
Lodge took charge Of the case and an
American warship, with w. j. CAL
houn AS commissioner on board was
ordered TO Venezuela and that repub-
lies authorities capituisted at once.
Another instance was that IT Mica
raeula during the time rhilander Knox
WAS secretary OF state The Ntcaraguan
government declined 10 answer our re-
quests for Information a b out two
American citizens--Groce and Cannon.
both of Texas. whom IT had under ar
rest--and Secretary Knox overnight
dismissed the Nicaraguan minister and
severed diplomatic relations, This led
to intervention by the marines with
the result that the case was settled
and order has reigneG in Nicaragua to
this day.