New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-11-28
Mexican Reply
Called Insolent;
Cabinet to Act
Continued from page 4

the belief was expressed TONIGHT TINT
the American reply would not o. fur-
.her than insisting on Mr.. Jenkins's
release IN order that he may resume
MS duties as the American consular
oihelai IN Puebla. In event of Mexico
'elterating her refusal to release Jen-
klns Internationally and without bail.
me question of severing diplomatic re-
.a''ons with the southern republic
'hen would be given consideration.
Secretary of War Baker would not
De able to attend a Cabinet meeting
held later than tomorrow unless he
postponed his contemplated trip TO
fanania. In fact, by Saturday there
Viii be only small number Of Pres-
dent Wilson's official family in Wash
lngton. Postmaster General Burleson
Is IN San Antonio. Tex, day, and
may not return before the firsN of the
week, and Secretary Lane contemplated
leaving Washington early tomorrow
tor weekend rest at a nearby resort.
Secretaries Baker and Daniels are
scheduled to be present at the Army
and Navy football gam in New York
Saturday. and after the game the Sec
rotary of War had planned to board the
Great Northern, which sails Sunday
HIolhlHS Tor fanama.
Intervention Last Step
officials frankly admitted tonight
that the jenkins case offers abundant
reasons for drastic steps by the Ameri-
can government, but just as frankly
they admitted that armed intervention
would be the last resort. 1t was said
that until Mexico is given every op-
portunity to meet the United States
demands the Jenkins case would not
get beyond the "diplomatic CORE
spondence' stage unless Congress
should take the initiative and demand
a more pronounced stand by the Ad-
ministraton.
The statement was made tonight
that the Carranza regime, seeking to
court the support of the anti-Amer-
can factions in Mexico at the cleo
tions, for that reason made the reply
IN the Jenkins note more of a chal-
1enge than an effort to meet the re-
quest of this government. The note,
It is believed, calls for reply from
this government before any decisive
step can be taken, and this, it is be-
lieved, is the result desired by the
Carranza government.
Asks Judgment be Withheld
The Mexican reply begins with an en-
preston of hope that the State Depart
ment will withhold judgment on Mr..
Jenkins's Imprisonment until the civil
courts in Puebla, where the case is
being considered, have passed on it.
1t adds that the foundation Of the
United STATES governments demand
that Mr.. Jenkins be released probably
"can only be the power of the country
that makes It,"
The note asserts that the Federal
government cannot order the release of
prisoner while his case is in the civil
courts of one of the Mexican states
and contends that the American de-
mand has no foundation or precedent in
international law.
The reply deals only with the charge
against Mr.. Jenkins of connivance with
his abductors and does not take up
the question of his earlier capture by
bandits and release on payment of
$l50,O00 ransom 1t points out that the
American first was held as a suspect
for completely in a criminal act, and
that the basis of imprisonment later
was changed to formal" imprisonment
when the magistrate believed sufficient
evidence had been produced to estab-
ish that a crime had been committed
Conflicting Statements Charged.
The allegation is that Mr.. Jenkins
signed conflicting statements regarding
his kidnapping and became "guilty" of
classifying judicial declaration"
The note says Mr.. Jenkins had op-
portunity to be released on bail equiva-
lent to $500, American money, but
refused to avail himself of it though
requested to do so.
Recalling that Mexican consuls in
the United States had been imprisoned
without request from Mexico that
local law be waived the note says:
The Mexican government cannot con-
cede to American citizens more rights
than Mexicans enjoy in the United
States"
TorF Of Mo~:oo,o