New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-12-07
Release of jenkins on
Bail Fails to Satisfy
State Department as
Inquiry Is Started
Senate to Let
President Act
Carranza's Reply Awaited
by Washington; More
Trouble Is Expected
NeW York. Tribune
WASHINGTON Bureau

NeW York. Tribune
Washington B".e
WASHINGTON, Dec. 6.--The crisis
in the relations between the United
States and Mexico will not have been
cleared up until it is learned that Will
lam O. Jenkins, American Consular
Agent at Puebla, was released uncondi-
tionally by the Mexican government,
and not merely liberated on bail to be
tried later, it was learned from official
sources to-day.
At the same time Secretary of State
Lansing issued a positive denial that
the American government authorized
the furnishing of bail for Mr.. Jenkins.
Mr.. Lansing added that this govern
ment chad never thought for one mo-
ment of changing the policy of Jenkins
in refusing to give bail"
Meanwhile the direction of Mexican
affairs will be left to President Will
son without recommendation from the
Senate that the President withdraw
recognition from the Carranza govern
ment and sever diplomatic relations
with Mexico. After a conference of
Republican members Of the Foreign
Relations Committee this afternoon IL
was predicted that Senator Falls reso-
luton asking that the President take
such action would not be adopted at
once. The resolution, it was said, will
not be acted upon unless President
Wilson indicates to the committee that
he is willing to break off diplomatic
relations with the Carranza govern
ment.
Release Makes No Change
Senator Fall. who is chairman of the
Foreign Relations Sub Committee,
which is inve estigating Mexican affairs,
asserted to-day that the release of
any effect on the Mexican situation"
"Mr. Jenkins's release" said Senator
Fall, "will not have any influence on
my resolution. l told the President
yesterday that the Jenkins case was
merely sore that showed the corrup-
tion of the whole body, and he agreed
with me. 1t is only one of the more
recent Of long list of incidents that
have brought relations past the break
ing point"
A thorough investigation of the ques-
tior of Jenkins's bail is to be made
by A, -erican embassy officials now in
Puebla shd by Jenkins himself, it was
said at NE State Department.
This government likewise has insti-
tuted an investigation of the identity
of j. Salter Hansen, the American, who
is reported to have furnished check
for $500 on the Guaranty Trust Com
pany of New York, as we'll as the motive
which prompted him to furnish bail
for the American official without re-
quest from Jenkins or the government.
Hansen Was in Mexico
1t has been learned that Hansen went
from New York to Mexico City about
year and a half ago and is alleged
to have told President Carranza and
Luis Cabrera. the then Minister of
Finance, that he had influence with the
leading bankers of the United States
and that he could negotiate d loan to
the Mexican government, which it then
sorely needed.
The governments information is that
Rafael Nieto, formerly assistant Min
lister of Finance, accompanied by Han
sen, went to New York and after gain
ing an audience with bankers was in
formed that no American bankers would
consider loan to Mexico until some
pretense of paying off the interest of
the national debt of the country was
made by Carranza. No move having
been made to pay off such obligations,
the loan automatically fell through.
1t is further stated that on the occa-
sion of this visit Hansen called upon
oil and mining companies and told
them that he could settle their differ
ences with Carranza. 1t is alleged that
he was rebuffed by the coal men and
returned to Mexico City
How Official Explains Case
This information concerning the
the government to believe that the
furnis shing of bail for Jenkins was
desired by Cabrera, and as one official
expressed it, "He hoped to bluff the
United States into the belief that our
demands had been complied with and
at the same time tell the Mexican peo-
pie that our notes had been ignored
and that Jenkins was still a prisoner
and was still amenable to the courts
Of the state~of Puebla."
Reports in the Mexico City press
state that Mexico's reply to Secretary
Lansing's last note will be forwarded
eager to hear what explanation Car
rama will offer for the releasing OF
Jenkins on bail or else to have him dis
claim all knowledge Of the incident.
Officials here are convinced that
Carranza has long since received q
complete report on the Jenkins affair
through his trusted lieutenant, Gen
eral Pablo Gonzalez. who has been sc.
'r-s-' ' ~ 40 f~e- chief as his success
ser to the Presidency and who wa.
y.. 20 investigate the at
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