Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-12-06
Release of American Official
by Mexico Not Salts
factory to u. S.
TRUE FACTS STILL
DISTURB CAPITAL
State Department Declares II Had No
Part in Securing Release Of Consular
Agent on Bonds and Has Not Been
Officially Apprised Of Action -
President Mentally Capable, Com
mittse Reports After Discussion.

Washington. Dec. 8.-The American
government has not changed It's atti-
tude on tho Jenkins case and hud no
part In obtaining his release on bail,
Secretary Lansing declared today In
denying rumors that the state depart
| ment had unof!c.ally passed the
word to the embassy" to see that
Jenkins was liberated on bonds.
The state department has not tcen
advised Officially that Jenkins nas
been released on bail. 1t developed to-
day that Jenkins did not know until
after he was released that he had
peen furnished bond.
Officials refused TO comment on re-
ports that Walter Hansen, who fur
nshed the bond, was acting for LUIS
Cabrera, minister Of finance in Car
ranza's cabinet. They are awaiting
reports of this from the American eh-
bassy at Mexico City.
An official report to the state de-
partment said the Carranza soldier
co recently had been arrested. No otn-
er information was given In the dis-
patch.
Find Wilson O. K. Mentally.
President Wilson, tho physically
infirm, is mentally competent and
alert, thoroughly capable Of perform
Ing the functions Of his office. and con-
versant with the crisis in the relations
Of the United States and the Mexican
government.
These facts were established to tho
satisfaction Of Senator Fall. of New
Mexico, republican, and Senator
Hitchcock, of Nehraska, democrat. In
the course of forty-five minute con-
ference on the Mexican situation. with
Mr.. Wilson at his bedside In the White
House.
Hear jenkins Was Fresd.
A dramatic touch was given tho oc-
casion when. in the midst OF tho dis
cussion Of Carranza's affronts to the
United States and of the question Of
breaking relations with the Mexican
government, DR.. Grayson entered the
bed chamber and announced that Sec
retary Of State Lansing had telephon-
ed news of the release by the Mexican
authorities Of the American consular
agent at Puebla. William o. Jenkins.
whose imprisonment created the pres
ent tense situation.
Conflict In Two Reports.
Tho American embassy in Mexico
City reported the release Of Mr.. Jenk
lns in an official dispatch received by
the state department this afternoon,
and almost at the same time news
dispatches were received from Mexico
City which said an agent of the Amer
lean embassy had deposited check
for $500 with the civil authorities at
Puebla. s..
This difference in the two reports
seemed to raise some doubt as to
whether Jenkins was released uncon-
ditionally on the diplomatic represen-
tations Of the United States govern
ment. or whether he had been released
on bail. as the Mexican authorities
have contended he could.
State Department Report.
The state department took the view
that Jenkins had been released on It's
diplomatic representations, and issued
this statement:
1.-THE release Of William O. Jenkins,
the American consular agent at Pueb-
Ia. Mexico, was reported late this aft
ernoon from the American embassy ut
Mexico City.
His release was brought about
by urgent diplomatic representations
oaa |1y %h{s
resulting investigation made by Gen.
Pablo Gonzalez. who was sent to
Puebla by the Mexican government to
investigate. The Investigations by
General Gonzalez. who was at Puebla
on Dec. 3, practically substantiated the
position taken by this government on
behalf OF Jenkins.
Poems Forced to Testify. g"
1.-TWO poems from Santa Lucia ud-
mitted to General Gonzalez that they
had made declarations against Jenkins
under threat Of execution. Other W.T.
nesses testified they had been COM
PEELED to make false statements
against Jenkins under duress. One
witness was threatened with a pistol,
another suspended by rope, and still
another beaten until he had made his
declaration against Jenkins.
These. facts are shown in the Uurt
record Of tho case."
Altho tho jenkins case Is only
one of the minor counts in the indict-
ment Of Carranza and one Of the lesser
outrages from which Americans have
suffered In Mexico and a!tho tho
Jenkens case itself will not be closed
satisfactorily until the Mexican gov
ernment makes amends for the affront
and pays the ransom exacted from the
consul by his abductors, It Is apparent
that the release Of the American offi-
cial has made less likely any imnedI-
ate rupture Of relations with Carranza.
4, Carranxa Calls Governor 20 Confer
Privnte advices received here today
from Mexico said CarranxA troops In
the state Of HidalEo hred on the fol-
lowers Of General ObreSon while tho
general was making public address
IN the interest Of his candiS 10Y Tor