Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-08-15
g. 2ANZA WARNED
THAT MURDERS Of
FOREIGNERS MUST
CEASE IN MEXICO
State Department Makes Pub
lie Text of Notes Exchanged
Recently Between American
and Mexican Governments,
LIVES AND PROPERTY
MUST BE PROTECTED
Reply From Mexico City Says
Everything Possible is Being
Done to Hunt Down Perpe-
traitors of 0utrageS,

tAN MORNING JOURNAL SPECIAL lhArNp WiREl
Washington. Aug. 1.-THE first
definite move toward the long expect
ed change in policy in dealing with
Mexico was disclosed today.
Carranza has been warned that II
the murders and outrages OF Amerl-
cans continue, the Unitel States may
be forced to adopt radical change in
its policy with regard to Mexico
With the announcement from the
state department, however, came no
authoritative indication of how far the
American government is preparing to
go to enforce what lacks only the dip
lomatic technicalties of an ultimatuH.
The government announced its in
tention by publishing an exchange of
notes with Mexico City. and prefaced
it's official statement with the eXpla-
nation that the diplomatic representa-
tons referred to had been taken IN
view of the long series of murders and
outrages of American citizens in Mex
leo, eliminating in the murder OF
Peter Catron in San Luis Potost last
month, and the preparation of other
acts in disregard of American lives ana
property"
Couchcd in Strong Language.
The communication to Mexico iS
couched in probably the strongest lam
guage used in any from this govern
ment since the exchange preceding
the Vera Cruz occupation. All official
washington began at once looking be-
hind the official text, seeking some
reason for an impending change OF
policy, for which there has been de-
mand in and out of congress. Pres
sure from foreign governments ana
pressure in congress which Is prepar-
ing an investigation of the whole Mex
lean situation, were among those
most commonly discussed.
Outwardly there was no reason eX-
cept the long and growing list of out
RACES on Americans
In connection with the death of Cat
ron, the usual representations regard
ing the capture and punishment of
those responsible were made, but the
note concluded as follows:
May Adopt Radical Change.
II am also instructed to state that
should the lives of American citizens
continue to remain unsafe and these
murders continue by reason of the un-
Willingness or inability of the MeXi-
can government to afford adequate
protection, my government may be
forced to adopt a radical change in its
policy with regard to Mexico"
The communication was signed by
George r. Summerlln, charge d'af-
faires.
Surprise was displayed in the reply
of the Mexican government at what
is styled the menace" contained in
the American note. 1t was suggested
that it appeared strange that such
demands for protection should be CIV
en- foreigners in sparsely settled dis
tricts, when crimes often go unde-
tected in the most populous cities OF
the most cultured countries and
where acts of violence are often COM
mitted without the respective gov
ernments thereby becoming the object
of severe observations"
The text of the American note and
the reply from the Mexican govern
ment, which is dated July 2S, were
given out today by the state Depart
ment without explanation for the de-
lay in making them public. The de-
partment's statement follows:
Long Series of Outragcs.
'In view of the long series of mur-
ders and ourages of American citi-
zens in Mexico, eliminating in the
murder of Peter Catron in San Luis
Potosi last month and the perpetra-
iton of other acts in disregard Of
American lives and property, the
American embassy at Mexico City on
July 90, by direction of the secretary
of state, made the following repre-
sentatons to the Mexican government:
"'Mexico City, July 22. 1919.
Sir: With reference TO the en-
bassys note, dated July 16. 1919, rel
ative to the murder of Peter Catron,
near Wales, San Luis Potosi, on or
about July 7, last, | have the honor
to inform you that l am now under
telegraphic instructions from my gov
ernment to urge upon the Mexican
government the capture and punish
ment of those responsible for this
murder, and the adoption ofNadequate
measures to prevent recurrence OF
| the murder of American citizens.
81 am also instructed to state that
| should the lives of American citizens
! continue to remain unsafe and these
murders continue by reason of the un-
Willingness or inability of the Mex g..
can government to afford adequate
protection, my government may be
forced to adopt a radical change in
its policy with regard to Mexico.
"'Accept, sir. the renewed assur-
ances of my highest consideration.
(Signed)
GEORGE T. SUMMERLIN.
"'Charge d'affairs.
The Mexican Reply.
"The Mexican reply, dated July 2S,
signed by Salvador Diego Fernandez
in charge of the department of for
eign relations and dated July 2S, fol-
| lows 8GQ gAt
"Mr. Charge d'Affa'res: The note
Continued on Page Two.l