Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-12-19
MEXICAN REPLY TO
j. s. NOTE RECEIVED;
TENSION IS RELIEVED
II Is Believed That "Crisis"
Will Pass and That No
UItimatum viii Be Sent to
Mexico

WASHINGTON, Dec. Is. - The
Mexican reply to the last American
note requesting the release of Amer
lean Consular Agent William o. Jen-
kins, has been received at the state
department, it was announced today.
Secretary of State Lansing is eX-
pected Immediately to study the Of
fetal text of the ote and the attt-
tude to be assumed by this govern
ment toward the Mexican reply is to
he disclosed soon, it is learned.
1t is beloved in semi-official Cir
cles that the United States probably
may ignore this last communication
of the Mexican government.
After he had read it, Secretary
Lansing made the Mexican note publ
lie. 1t is substantially the same as
that carried in press dispatches.
In spite of MeXicos uncompromls-
ing attitude in refusing to dismiss
the charges against W. o. Jenkins.
American consular agent, it was evl-
dent today that the state department
intended to let the diplomatic cor
respondence in his case lapse, and
the "crisis" die a. quiet death.
Wilson Takes Hand
This, it was believed, was due
entirely to President Wilson taking
a strong hand in the matter and
toning the belligerent, attitude this
government assumed while Secretary
Lansing was managing the negot1a-
lions for jenkins release. Secre-
tary I4ansing's last demand for the
Americans freedom was considered
one of the most sarcastic and I'M
equivocal messages ever sent by this
government to any country. At the
time it was sent the president was
not consulted. MeXico's answer was
to obtain jenkins release on bail
thus beclouding the issue, in the
opinion of the United States-and
then to send a very polite note say
ing there couldn't be any crisis now
that he was out of jail, but that
he must be prosecuted in the Next
can courts on a charge of consplr-
ing with bandits, despite Secretary
Lansing's demands.
In the meantime, however, Pres1-
dent Wilson has been brought into the
situation, and as he is known to
favor avoidance of rupture with
Mexico at all costs, there is little
expectation here that this govern
ment's next note-if another should
be sent--wil1 be threatening. Ger
tainly the u1timatum which, 1t was
freely predicted, would be d1spatcheo
if Mexico "hedged" will fail TO ma
terialize, according to all indications
today. At the state department 1t
was considered extremely unlikely
that the United States even would go
so far as to publicly scold Carranza
for his trick in turning Jenkins out
of Jail on bail so as to eliminate the
dramatic element in the "crisis." AS
soon as Carranza feels the excite
ment has subsidized, however, he is ex-
pected to drop the charges against
Jenkins and ask him to depart from
Mexico.
Oil Negotiations
The United States still is negot1at-
ing with Mexico over reported inter-
ference with American oil operations
in Tampico, but this correspondence
ia secret and little has been heard
about it since the president stepped
in.
Before leaving for the border
where he is to resume the lnVestl-
cation into Mexican affairs now be-
ing conducted by, the senate COM
mittee, of which he is chairman, SEN
ator Fall, Republican, New Mexico,
issued a statement declaring the
American government had started ne
gotiations in the Jenkins case with
an ultimatum and had ended up
with a final abandonment of its
position" He added that, in view of
the recent events, he had no reason
to think that anything further would
be done by the government in the
Jenkins case or any other case other
than to back, wash our hands in
invisible water, roll our eyes upward
and proclaim, Peace on earth; good
will to bandits"
Refusal of President Carranza to
permit General AIvaro Obregon to
retire from the army and appear as
a civilian candidate for the pres
idency has created a tense situation
in Mexico City, according to advices
today from the Mexican capital.
DENIAL OF MEDIATION
MADE BY URUGUAY
MONTEVIDEO, December 1S.-Re-
ports emanating from Mexico City
yesterday that the Uruguayan gov
eminent would offer its services as
mediator in the difficulties between
the United States and Mexico over
the case Of Consul Jenkins were de-
MED at the foreign ministry here
today.
Advices from Mexico City said
Gabriel Terra, the Urguayan min
lister of foreign relations, had sought
on behalf of his government to aid
in composing the differences between
the United States and the southern
republic over the Jenkins affair.
Such a step on the part of Foreign
Minister Terra was said to have been
announced by the Mexican foreign
relations department on receipt of in
formation from the Mexican charge