Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1919-12-19
MEXICO REFUSES To
DROP JENKINS CASE
Government win Not Dismiss
Charges Against Agent.
ASSERTS IMBRoGLIo IS OFF
declares United States Belief in
Agents innocence Does Not AS-
solve Him Under the Laws of
That Republic.

Mexico City, Dec. 18--The release
OF william 0. Jenkins, American con-
sular agent at Puebla, under pan, mas
removed all motive for misundersfand-
mo between the Mexican and United
States governments regarding inc
Jenkins issue, according to the reply
of the Mexican government to the sec
ond American note on the subject. me
Mexican reply was handed TO the
American charge d'affaires.
The communication signed by n
lido Medina, who is In charge OF tne
foreign relations department. ana Is
addressed to George t. Summeriin' ~
charge of the American embassy,
The note declares the Jenkins case
has taken on an altogether different as
pect since the American agents re
lease. In polite terms it differs with
the American objection to former le-
gal technicaIities, reaffirnlir.s that the
Jenkins case is entirely legal one
Moreover, the Mexican answer points
out, tie American governments De-
lief in Mr. jenkins innocence OF the
charge against him is not enough to
warrant setting aside Mexican laws.
Text of Note.
The text of the reply Is as follows:
"With reference to note No. looo'
dated the 30th of last November, which
vour exceIlency transmitted TO the
Mexican government, acting on instruc-
lions from the American government
relative to the case Of Jenkins, ! have
the honor Of saying that, under IN
structions of the president of the re-
public, the Mexican government IN re-
PLYING to this note win confne itself
to considering some Of the principal
points of that note without taking up
and examining its arguments, trying
only to establish certain necessary
precedents In international Jaw in or
der to make clear before the people its
official conduct, for, since jenkins has
been released under bail deposited in
the Puebla court by an American citi-
zen. the Mexican government thinks
that any motive for misunderstanding
between the two countries has lis
appeared and that the jenkins case
has taken a very different form than
1t previously presented.
Holds Discussion Proper.
'The United States government says
that 1t refuses to enter into any jul
dicial discussion of the differnt points
brought forward by the Jenkins case,
but the Mexican government, on the
contrary. thinks that a discussion CT
legal questions IN matter which is
essentially judicial. Is not Improper or
inadequate, and IL this ministry re-
ferred very extensively to some points
related to the Jenkins case. it was due
10 the fact that the Mexican govern
ment deems that a complete exposition
of the Jenkins case is its best justin
cation and conclusive proof of the le-
gality of its procedure.
"The last paragraph of the note
which i am answering and which I'M
sists on demanding the immediate re-
lease of Jenkins is based Is founded
on the belief OF the American govern
ment that the charge Of false testi-
mony against Jenkins is unfounded.
Nevertheless, the belief of the Amer
lean government in the innocence OF
Jenkins is not sufficient. according TO
Mexican laws, to establish such inno-
cence and avoid legal consequences.
and the Mexican government cannot
accept this point of view as a sound
base to remove foreign citizen from
the jurisdiction of Mexican tribunals.
- 81
eminent is founded on reports received
about the case, reports which, aside
from the value which they might
have and which this ministry does net
deem it convenient to discuss, lack the
proofs of impartiality which are de-
manded by Mexican tribunals and con
sequently do not constitute plain proof,
according TO the Mexican penal law.
1.-THE Mexican government cannot nd
nit that American citizens can be ried
and absolved on simple reports from
the state department nor on recon-
mendatlons or suggestions from the
United States instead of trying them
by Mexican courts and according to
Mexican laws.
Jenkins, having Deen granted free
dom by the Puebla court, which case
now is being considered by the high
est court Of the republic in order to
determine which JUDGE is coirpetena 10
try him. the Mexican government lakes
the liberty to hope that this case shall
no longer disturb the good relations
which it sincerely hopes exists be-
tween the American and Mexican peo-
Pies