New-York tribune., 1919-11-24
Helping Rebels Against
Carranza l. Alleged;
Long Dispatch Received
at Mexican Embassy
Trial Proceedings
Are Kept Secret
Payment of Ransom Held
as Financial Assistance
to Federico Cordoba

WASHINGTON, Nov. 23. - The
answer of the Mexican government
to the sharp note demanding the I'M
mediate release of William ..
Jenkins, American Consular Agent
at Puebla, probably viii be delivered
to the State Department tomorrow.
A long dispatch bearing on the
Jenkins case, it was learned tonight,
has been received al the Mexican
Embassy and was being decoded to-
day for presentation to the govern
ment
While authoritative information as
to the attitude of the Mexican gov
ernment is lacking, all indications
here pointed to a technical refusal to
order the release of Jenkins.
Since his arrest. it was learned,
additional charges against the Amer
lean official have been formulated.
based upon alleged evidence that he
actively assisted persons in rebelling
against the Carranza government.
Payment OF large sum of money to
the rebels which was used by them to
purchase ma&ons and acting 'n col
fusion with e leaders arc said to
be specific "co Ns in the new indict-
ments.
What was regarded as hint Of
Mexico's position in the Jenkins case
was noted IN an article published by
the Mexican newspaper "Fxcelsfor."
copy of which reached Washington to
day. The paper stated specincally that
Jenklns's second arrest WAS based upon
charges that he actively assisted tho
rebels.
The certain sum of money" winch
jenkins Is accused Of delivering 80 me
rebels consisted OF the 100000 pesos
(sl5O,OO04 he was compelled to pay
as ran som to Federico Cordoba. ths
rebel whose forces klanapci him Tho
coiluslon charged IS based or the fact
tnal jenkins agreed 80 pay the rebel
leader the ransom in order 20 save his
life and gain his liberty
Contrary 70 custom Az Nek can
courts, the proceedings in ihe Jef k ns
case on the occasion of hIs SECOND ar
rest we're marked viii the utmost
secrecy.
jenkins was summoned 70 court
where he Vas placed unaer arrest
His plea for bali was scfu el b. Judge
Gonzales Franco on accalgf OF fhe
gravity Of the otfeuso Tn cvelg nar-
ticular the proceedings Wcfr secret
and court attaches were warned that
hey would be dismissed and ot.crn Sc
punished II any i.cts relating 20 fho
case reached the lahlic
Oiiicials here regard .he nature
Of the new charges against jenkins as
an effort on the part of the Ntxican
government 90 take the case out OF
the hands Of the P4ebla state autnori-
ties. as both charges are of crimes
against the federal government
Action by Cabinet Expected
The Mexican situation. IL IS ex-
pected. viii be considered al the Cabi-
net meeting Tuesday. Whether the
note received to-day VIII cal Tor an
ultimatum could not be ascertalneG. but
n such sep IS considered favorably
oy the Cabinet IL is thought that the
whole jenkins matter viii be laid be-
fore President Wilson al once Thus
tar he has not been informed OF the
latest compl plIcatIon IN ,nc eountry's re-
latlons with the Gamma government.
The prevailing opinion here is that
the Mexican note wll nave the effect
OF prolOnging negotiations n the Jen-
klns affair rather than of bringing
about drastic action by the American
government. IL the past the Mexican
government has met American demands
grudgingly. bat eventually II is be
lieved that in the present instance
MpVlco Ufll tIp.s