The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-06-16
BRITISH AGENT .DEFIES OFFICERS IN MEXICO CITY Legation, With Water Supply Cut, Under
 Police Siege
CUMMINS CHARGED
 WITH DISCOURTESY
Diplomatic Tangle Looms \ If Forced Arrest Is
 Made

S MEXICO CITY, June 15.-Lock- Al in the British legation with the water supply and telephone cut off, Ills A. c. Cummins, representative |of the British government here. IS Resisting efforts of the Mexican to expel him from the country.
 3 Eighteen men from the police de- partment, the foreign office, the war office and the department of the interior surround the building for block.
 It is expected that the polics will break into the legation and arrest and deport Cummins, but invaaion of the legation would mean viola tion of extra-territorial rights, and might be followed by. grave conse- squences. The order to expel Cummins was given by President Obregon after re- peated efforts had been made by Mex ico to persuade Britain to withdraw ham as persona non grata."
 Locked Up June 10
 Since June 10 Cummins has been locked in the legation, but it was not until Saturday that the secret police began their preparations to arrest him, as the expulsion order only then took effect.
 s There is plenty of food in the lega- tion and the official is prepared to withstand the siege now effective. It is understood that his government has ordered him to remain in the legation.
 The Chilean minister visited the Brit ish legation Sunday and made an un- successful attempt to persuade Cum mins to leave quietly.
 If force is used in expelling him Mex ieO will violate the extra-territorial rights of the British legation, but it is understood that the Obregon govern ment intends to take the step if Cum Rmins does not leave. The Chilean min .jster is now holding conferences with other members of the diplomatic corps here in an effort to find way out of the situntion.
 The foreign office, in statement is- sued to the press, says that Cummins, who was in charge of the archives at the legation, had no diplomatic position, but was responsible for Britains failure to recognize Mexico, due to the fact that he made false and vilifying statements to the British government regarding conditions here.
 After Long Quarrel
 Ills also sent notes to the Mexican government, the statement says, which were invariably discourteous and couch ed in violent terms. Two years ago, in view of these facts, Mexico advised Brit ain that he was persona non grata," and suggested that he be withdrawn.
 No action was taken on the request, however, and on January 15, Mexico ad vised the British consul that he gov ernment would suspend Gll correspond ence with Cummins. At the same time it was suggested that the consul trans nit to London two discourteous notes which the government had received from the official.
 Recently, the statement continues, Cummins prevented the government from reaching an arrangement with Mrs. Evans, who endeavored to obtain large sum from Mexico for exappro- priated lands. In connection with this he made false reports, the statement says, and sent the Mexican government another discourteous note.
 Refuses DithdrawaI
 On May Mexico again advised Eng land that Cummins was not wanted. The British government replied that it saw no reason for withdrawing him. Mexico answered that for the sake of the dignity of the country Britain should withdraw the statements Cum mins had made, but, according to the foreign office statement, Britain upheld the representative.
 The statement says that Cummins thereafter persisted in his attitude, which is described as an affront to the Mexican government. Seeing no solution of the problem, Mexico then advised Cummins to leave within eight days. When he did not comply the government. dictated measures making his expulsion effective.
 The foreign office statement says in conclusion that Mexico has complied with all diplomatic rules, and has always been disposed to renew relations with Britain providing the British send Mexico an adequate representative who will observe diplomatic custom.