The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1919-12-06
REFUSE US. DEMANDS
in The JENKINS CASE
Mexico Declares it Can't Ac-
cede to Request Of u. S.
Regarding Jenkins.

legal lOuHudtlOn nor pTlHClple VI IHLeF~
national law" upon which the United
States bases its demand for the imme-
date release of William o. Jenkins,
United States consular agent at Pueb-
la. the Mexican government through
Hilario Medina undersecretary of for
eign relations, Wednesday stated it
was impossible to accede to the re-
| quest of the American state depart
ment.
The text of the note. in part, fol-
lows;
MIR. George l.. Summerlin, Acting |
! Charge d'Affaires for the United
States of America am instructed
by the president of the republic to
answer herewith your note of Nov. 20,
which you addressed to the Mexican
government on instructions from the
state department of the United
States.
You will no doubt realize that the
fact that no legal foundation, princi-
pie or precedent of international right
or even of reason, is invoked in the
demand for the immediate liberation
of Mr.. Jenkins, Who as you know, is
at present under the jurisdiction OF
a Judge Of the city of Puebla.
The Mexican government can not
see what the foundation for such
demand might be. 1t believes that 1t
can be only the power of the country
. that makes it, although the United
4 States has expressed the desire on
various occasions that right and JUS
: tice should be the basis Of its diplom-
f acy. and respect for weak countries
the basis of its international relation
on the continent
Is The terms Of note which am an
p swering are attributed by my govern
ment to imperfect understanding o.
our penal laws. The imprisonment Il
=, neither unjust nor arbitrary, as YOU
= note states, since Mr. Jenkins MIN
self has signed contradictory state
a ments regarding the kidnapping o
. which he was a victim
.ir Nevertheless this Imprisonment
q does not of itself signify that Mr. Jer
kins is guilty, because such fact ca
III only be established by a definite Judt
ment
Mr., Jenkins has undergone pr
ventive detention, first, and then
formal Imprisonment of seventy"
hours, It is because of this that
was rearrested. and this is fact tn;
seems to be considered by the COVER
nent of the United States as persec
- tion or a series of injuries that a
inflicted unjustly on the consul
In the course of the trial at al
time. the accused may ask and 9
ain his liberty on bail.
Mr.. jenkins, finding himself, tn
he involved in trial that is beng &C
the Quoted according to law, under the j
isdiction of judge whose procee
ore ings are open, and are constantly
der the vigilance of public oplnl
which is interested in learning I
his truth of the affair, the Mexican g
DOL eminent finds itself under the nee
sity of not being able to accede 10
demand for liberation, contained III
note to which l am replying; ana
hos for this strong reason founded
the rights of peoples and conslde
/" tions of constitutional character.
sci. AS to the first rights the COVE
ver- mant believes no other goVernM
lille can make diplomatic claims for
the Of its subjects abroad, save In
bor- case where justice is denied or wh
the sentence is VIGOROUSLY excess
which is also in international iaV
denial of justice and that prac
lie l which has been invariably oosef
has heeu that of waiting for the
hunaIs having cognizance OF
:. / involving foreigner to pronounc
judgment that, as | nave saio,
we're VIGOROUSLY unjust would De
only basis for claim.
NY AZ to the constitutional viewpt
aney. AS " my anstitr.ion establis
-" as a fundamental principle the 5
49,. ration of the executive power
''''''' that of the judicial and by virtu
this the executive does not nave
y ~ mower to interfere in the bushes
,,..,,, the latter.
has Likewise the autonomy of the
have Gus states is guaranteed III oui W
your tuition and by virtue of the rec
structure oAthe Mexican RepuDh'
federal power can not interyent
s.irs which, like that OF Mr.. Jen
belongs properly and exelusiVel
the authorities of the state OF Pn
For this reason the executive
NOT order the judge having Jur
ZION If the case to free Mr. Jel
hocanse this latter functionary
with reason refuse to obey sue
order.
Ill