Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1919-11-28
LET MEXICO FILE HER CHARGES.
nm ExICO has taken serious step

NM ExICO has taken serious step
lW one that may involve 1t in dan
gervus complications-in refusing the
demand Of the United States to re-
lease from imprisonment William o.
Jenkins, consular agent at Puebla. On
the other hand. this country must move
cautiously In dealing with people who
have given early evidence they propose
to use every means at their command to
insult the United States. The insolence
Of Mexico is contained In the reply to
the demand Of the United States where
in the insinuative remark Is made:
1.-The Mexican government cannot see
what the foundation for such de-
mand might be. II believes that it can
only be the power of the country that
makes IL, although the United States
has expressed the desire on various oc-
casions. that right and justice should
be the basis of it's diplomacy and re-
spect for weak countries the basis of
it's international relations to the con-
tinent."
In other words. while refusing to
liberate an imprisoned representative
of the United States, Mexico infers
that the only reason We have made the
demand is because we are mighty and
propose to exercise that might on
weak nation. The charge places us on
the defensive in a diplomatic exchange
that may lead to armed interven-
ton. 1t is absurd Of course. Mexico
makes it to gain standing and SYM
pathy from other powers. Its policy is
to dare the United States to the far
extreme, and to bait us. We would be
justified in making a sharp and i'm
perative demand that unless Jenkins Is
released, battleships will move into
Mexican ports and armies will cross
the border, but we are big enough to
proceed carefully and 10 call for the
evidence Mexico claims 1t has that
Jenkins conspired with notorious
bandit for his own kidnapping that he
might split the ransom money with
him.
And that is the defense that Mexico
is making. Heretofore the state de-
partment positively declared that
after a thorough examination of all of
the facts it was satisfied that the charge
is groundless. But Mexico claims that
1t is true. Then let Mexico produce
the evidence. She should be given that
chance. We can afford to tolerate her
long enough to permit it.
1.-The imprisonment (of Jenllins) is
neither unjust nor arbitrary" states
Mexico in her reply, as your note
states. since Mr.. Jenkins himself has
signed contradictory statements re-
garding the kidnapping of which he
was the victim. The judge has had
ample foundation to suppose that he
was guilty of the crime OF falsisyina
judicial declarations and this has
caused MS imprisonment.
If Mexico cannot back up that charge
she will find herself nearer interven,
ton than she has been for years. That
1t is likely she cannot is intimated II
the following statement in the reply:
Nevertheless, this Imprisonment does
not itself signify that Mr.. Jenkins i.
guilty, because such fact can only
be established by definite Judgment
Mexico therein holds there is a posi-
bility the American being held by thai
country is not guilty. In that even
and in the event of the release OF Jen.
kins, belated apology by Mexico will
not suffice. The time VIII then hs.v,
arrived to punish that country for it,
insults.