Evening star., 1926-09-17
Murder in Mexico.


Murder of an American citizen IN
Mexico By bandits creates q dlfficuit
situation, which calls for both acton
by this Government and at the same
time restraint of feeling toward the
government at Mexico City. Inc
United States has already instructed
its representative AT that capital TO
make representations to the Gales
government urging it to do its utmost
to arrest and punish the slaTers. NO
further steps are indicated. Indeed
It is questionable whether anything
f,Irt her can be done. The Mexican
government would appear to have al
ready acted Federal troops were IN
pursuit of the band when the murder
was committed and two of its mem
bers were slain. Mr. Rosenthal was
killed By his captors. il would seem.
wher they found that they could not
obtain ransom for him and when they
were pressed by the troops. Thus
there is evidence that the Mexican
government has acted IN good faith
and it would be hazardous for the
United States TO question the SINGER
ity of its endeavor.
This latest victim of Mexican law
lessness, Jacob Rosenthal. was Il fire.
ouent visitor in that country. He was
familiar with conditions. Indeed. he
had had an earlier adventure there
in 1918, during the Madero revolution,
when his apartment was invaded by
federal troops, who used the building
as an artillery post and caused costly
damages, claims for which are still
unpaid. Mr. Rosenthal was in Mexico
on this occa sion as tourist. When
captured By the bandits he was with
party on a visit to Cuernavaca, a
week end resort near the capital The
trip TO that point ordinarily requires
three hours and can be made in safety
in normal conditions. The bandits ap
pear to have lain in wait for their
prey. taking whomever they thought
would serve as a hostage for ransom.
a member of the American diplomatic
establishment. it is known, narrowly
escaped capture by the same band.
The American case against Mexico
is not necessarily weakened by the
fact that crime prevails in this coun-
try. But that fact nevertheless stands
as factor of consideration. This
Government cannot guarantee secu-
rity of its own people or of the ma
tionals of other countries visiting
here. Should British or a Mexican
visitor to these shores be caught by
brigands and held for ransom the
United States could do no more than
to endeavor to rescue him, or if he
We're harmed or killed to punish his
from another government, however
great the outrage.
Many Americans have lost their
lives in Mexico during recent years,
in the main as a result of the break
down of authority there over large
areas incident TO changes of govern
ment, revolutions ana plots against
the established administration. Those
who have gone to Mexico on business
and have suffered injury or death at
the hands of lawless 1orces are in
somewhat different category from
those who. like Mr. Rosenthal. have
gone there as tourists, sightseers,
pleasure seekers and onlookers and
have come to grief. The latter have
taken their chances in disturbed
country. in which the ordinary guar
antees of security have been weak
ened. Mexico has not formally asked
not to be visited. but its failure to do
so cannot render that government Ii.
able for atrocities committed by out
laws