The sun., 1919-08-15
The Mexican Reply.

The Mexican reply, dated July %,
signed by Salvador Diego-Fernandez, in
charge of the Department of Foreign Re-
lations, follows:
Mr.. Charge d'A6aires: The note which
your Honor was pleased to send me on
the 22d instant advised me- of the
instruction which you had received to
notify this department that IL the lives
Of the citizens of the United States In
Mexico continued in a state of insecur-
ity, and II murders should continue be-
cause of the unwilllngness or inability of
the Mexican Government to give ade-
quate protection, the Government of the
United States would be compelled to
adopt a radical change in its policy with
regard to Mexico.
I'm reply l have the honor to state
that the fact that offences against the
lives of citizens of the United States
have occurred in the territory of the re-
public cannot be attributed to unwilling
ness to give protection.
The willingness to furnish this pro-
lection has been expressed repeatedly
and the material difficulties in the way
of fulfilling a promise. supposing that II
is not fulfilled. should not be confused
with unwillingness to do SO. especially
as this willingness had been demon
strated by acts.
Moreover. II we consider the protec-
ton of human life in absolute terms,
that is to say. IL In every case and
wherever a citizen OF the United States
may be within Mexican territory he
should enjoy special and effective protec-
ton to n degree such that his life may
never be placed in danger It is not posi-
BILE for the Government of Mexico to do
this, because so perfect a condition of
| security exists nowhere; with all the
more reason is this true, considering the
great territorial extent Of the Republic.
its scanty population and the difficult
| conditions which prevail after a long
civil war.
The Government of Mexico has al
ways endeavored. as far possible. to give
full security TO the lives of foreigners as
well as to Its nationals. but the fact is
! that foreigners. through ignorance, the
: lacir> of prudence or rash eagerness for
profit, venture to remain or to travel in
dangerous regions, thereby mourning the
| risk OF becoming the victims OF offences
! and even trust ng to escape offences be-
| cause of their being foreigners.
Says Guilty Were Pursued.
at should be remembered. moreover
| that always when the Government OF
| Mexico has had knowledge of an offence
/ IL mas lne presumably
parties. The pursuit In such a case
surely is not the same as that ordinarily
made in cities in the case of ordinary
crimes because the circumstances are
different in populous community.
I'm me latter It is relatively easy &c
identify the guilty party, while in unin-
| habited places the band which committed
the offence Is located and pursued, IL
overtaken. and as many as possible are
killed without generally be ng able I,
identify the really guilty party. because
even within the band of offenders itself
1t is impossible to determine. as might be
supposed, which pro;ectile Of voiley
| caused a murder
THE recent Correll case proves thai
the Mexican Government, following thi.
procedure. which is the only poss bl,
one, is displaying the greatest activity
because Immediately after this murder
was reported forces left in pursuit OF tn,
the band and killed four of the villains.
| "The Mexican Government has beer
constantly preoccupied with the pacifica'
| ton of/the republic. and as a first steI
has destroyed the principal rebel group,
and has conquered the most motor on.
| leaders. as is demonstrated by the con.
clusion of the recent villa movement
the death of Zapata. of Banquet and
IneZ Avila, without mentioning the op
erations against groups Of minor i'm
portance. A necessary consequence Of
this progress in the labor of pacificatior
is the existence OF some bands. the veal
remains of the large groups