Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-12-04
PLAIN TALK TO
MEXICO BY j. S.
New Note Accuses Carranza of
Trying to Befog Jenkins
Case With Technicalities

Washington, Dec. 1.-The new note of
the American government to Mexico on
the jenkins case, made public to-day.
makes 1t plain that the United States re-
CARDS the statement of the Carranza gov
eminent on the consular agents case as
an attempt to evade the issue and en-
snare jenkins in the intricacies of legal
proceedings. The demand for the Amer
leans immediate release is expected.
The text of the note as transmitted by
the American charge at Mexico City fol-
lows:
II have not failed to transmit to my
government the note of the Mexican gov
eminent dated November 2s, 1919, with
reference to the case of William o. Jen-
kins, American consular agent at Pueb-
la, and I am now in receipt of a reply
from the government of the United
States, which I am instructed Immediate
~ to transmit to you.
THE government of the United States
declines to be drawn into a juridical dis
cussion of irrelevant matters or unim-
portant incidents brought forward in
connection with this case. The Mexican
government can not be misled as 1t in
Inmates. by the citation by the United
states Of mo principle or precedent of
international law and not even Il reason
for jenkins release; for obviously no
such citation il necessary for the en-
lightenment of a government of the pres
ent day. The Mexican government be-
lieves. and rightly SO, that the American
request for jenkins release is not based
on solely the strength of the country
which makes it, for it knows the request
Is founded on the justice of the right of
an American citizen and United consular
officer to fair treatment while residing
and In dischargng his duties within Mex
lean jurisdiction with the knowledge and
approval OF the Mexican government.
The Mexican government may con-
tend that the Imprisonment of the vic
tim is necessary for the investigation
by judge under the constant vigilance
of public opinion of the truth regarding
his abduction and that "A right of re-
lease on bali Is a palliative for such
wrongful imprisonment but the United
States Is constrained to the opinion that
such arguments are mere excuses The
government of the United States invites
and desires the fullest possible examine
ton and investigation of this case, but
it cannot admit that it is necessary in
order to ascertain the facts that Mr..
Jenkins should be retained in prison
even with the privilege of applying for
ball. My government will not and is
satisfied that Mr.. Jenkins will not place
any obstacle in the way of a complete
and full examination of himself or his
witness or OF the events leading up to
and connected with his abduction The
Mexican government prefers to attribute
the American note to an imperfect
knowledge OF the Mexican penal laws
and proceeds to explain with refinement
the intricacies OF Mexican penal pro-
ceedings. But the government Of the
United States fails to disco in their
application to this case at the hands of
Mexican authorities any approxma ton
to Impartial treatment Of jenkins and
the Mexican government knows the re-
suit or such treatment il the reason for
the American request.
THE Mexican government maintains
that ii cannot grant the request of the
United States for jenkins release for
the reason that under International law
no diplomatic interference is appropriate
unless n denial of justice has occurred
and because the Mexican government is
not In position to demand jenkins
release in view of the separation of the
executive and judicial powers under the
Mexican form Of government and the in
dependence of the state courts, by one
OF which Jenkins is held. The succinct
answer to this contention is. as every
one knows. that Il denial Of justice has
already taken place and also because the
Mexican constitution specifically gives
the federal tribunals jurisdiction of all
cases concerning diplomatic agents and
consular officers
THE United States is not to be driven
by such subtle arguments into a defen-
sive of its request for the release Of Mr..
Jenkins. 1t is for Mexico to show cause
for his detention not for the United