The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1919-11-27
LANSING ORDERS
JENKINS RELEASE
Further MoIestation viii "Seri-
ouSly Affect Relations" Note
to Mexico Says.
JENKINS STORY GIVEN OUT.
Bandits Seized Him, They Said, to
Show HelpIessness Of Carranza Gov
ernment-State Department Tells
Our Embassy to Act Quickly.

Washington. Secretary Lansing
sent note TO the Carranza govern
ment demanding the immediate re-
lease of William o. Jenkins, the Amer
lean consular agent at Pueba, who
has been rearrested and imprisoned by
Mexican authorities, and warning the
Mexican government that any further
molestation of Jenkins would SERIOUS
iy affect the relations between the
United States and Mexico, for which
the government of Mexico must as
sumo sole responsibility"
This official announcement regard
ing the action was authorized by the
state department:
The department of state sent Il note
to the Mexican foreign Office, through
the American embassy at Mexico City,
calling for the immediate release Of
William o. Jenkins, the American Con-
Gular agent at Puebla.
The note, which is based on the re-
arrest of Consular Agent Jenkins at
Puebla, points QUO that the United
States government is surprised and
incensed" to laarn of the reimprison-
ment of Mr. Jenkins, particularly in
view of the suffering and losses al
ready sustained by him In connection
with his kidnapping through lack of
protection by the Mexican authorities
and in connection with his first arrest
by Mexican officials
The note expresses the view, based
on the Information in the possession
OF the department of state that his
rearrest is absolutely arbitrary and
unwarranted and warns the Mexican
government that further molestation
of the consular agent will seriously af-
feet the relations between the United
States and Mexico, for which the gov
eminent of Mexico must assume sole
responsibility.
This action was taken after the de-
partment had been notified of the re-
arrest of jenkins and had received a
complete report from jenkins himself
regarding his kidnapping. For several
weeks efforts have been under way in
Mexico to bring about the arrest OF
jenkins on charge of collusion in his
own kidnapping
The rearrest of Jenkins appears to
have taken place after this govern
ment had already sent q memorandum
20 it's embassy at Mexico City direct
ing II to request the release of Jenkins
and after certain assurances had been
given that he would not be molested.
simultaneously with the dispatch of
Secretary Lansing's note to the Car
rama government a letter from Jen-
kins giving an account Of the kidnap-
ing was made public by Representa-
tive T.. l.. Davis Of Tennessee. who
represents the congressional district
where Jenkins was born, where he re-
sided until he went to Mexico and
where he now maintains citizenship.
Jenkins declares he was kidnapped
because he was a representative of
the United States, that he was seized
in the consular Office and that part of
the money stolen was consular funds.
The bandits told him that their princi-
pal object was to show the helpless
ness of the Carranza government and
force that government to pay the
large ransom. The Mexican authori-
ties, jenkins says, did nothing to oh
tain his release, but caused him every
possible inconvenience"
Before his arrest jenkins, who oper-
ates a large cotton mill at Puebla, had
planned TO return to his old home I'm
Tennessee and II necessary come to
Washington to present his claim for
assistance in paying off the obligations
contracted In raising the fund paid
the bandits for his release