Jasper County Democrat, Volume 22, Number 40, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 August 1919 — WARNS CARRANZA TO STOP MURDERS [ARTICLE]

WARNS CARRANZA TO STOP MURDERS

Told Further Neglect of Duty Will Cause Radical Change of Policy. MOVE INTO CITIES, REPLY Mexico Suggests That Unless Foreigners Move to Populous Places It Will Be Impossible to Protect Them From Bandits. Washington, Aug. 15.—Warning that there would be a radical change in the policy of the American government regarding Mexico if the Carranza government continued to fall to protect Americans in that country was contained in a note sent to tRe Mexican foreign office July 22. Notification of a possible change of policy was made by the American embassy at Mexico City on Instructions from the state department, which determined upon this course as a result of the long series of murders and outrages of Americans in Mexico culminating in the murder of Peter Catron In San Luis Potosi-last month. That the'We had been dispatched was disclosed by' the state department together with the fhforroation that_in its reply the Mexican government had said that everything possible already was being done to protect foreigners. There was a suggestion that unless foreigners concentrated in populous -places It would be impossible to afford them the protection demanded. May Adopt “Radical Change."

In connection with the death of Catron, the usual representations regarding the capture and punishment off those responsible were made, but the note concluded as follows: “I am also instructed to state that should the lives of American citizens continue to remain unsafe and these murders continue by reason of the unwillingness or inability of the Mexican government to afford adequate protection, my government may be forced to adopt a radical change in its policy with regard to Mlxlco." The communication was signed by George T. Summerlin, charge d'affaires Surprise was displayed in the reply of the Mexican government at what isstyled the “menace” contained in the American note. It was suggested that it appeared strange that such demands should be made for protection for foreigners in sparsely settled districtswhen crimes often go undetected in the “most populous cities of the most cultured countries” and “where acts off violence are often committed” without the respective governments thereby becoming the object of severe observations.

Text of Notes Given Out. The text of the American note and the reply from the Mexican government, which was dated July 28, were given out by the state department without explanation for the delay in making them public. The department’s statement follows: “In view of the long series of murders and outrages of American citizens in Mexico, culminating in the murder of Peter Catron in San Luis Potosi last month, and the perpetration of other acts in disregard of American lives and property, the American embassy at Mexico City on July 22, by direction of the secretary of state, made the following representations to the Mexican government: Summerlin’s Note. “‘Mexico City, July 22, 1919.—Sir: With reference to the embassy’s note, dated July 18, 1919, relative to the murder of Peter Catron, near Valles, San Luis Potosi, on or about July 7 last, I have the honor to Inform you that I am now under telegraphic instructions from my government to urge upon the Mexican government the capture and punishment of those responsible for this murder, and the adoption of adequate measures to prevent a recurrence of the murder of American citizens. “ ‘I am also instructed to state that should the lives of American citizens continue to remain unsafe and these murders continue by reason of the unwillingness or inability of the Mexican 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 assurances of my highest consideration. (Signed) “ ’GEORGE T. SUMMERLIN, '* ‘Charge d’Affaires.’ Mexico Replies at Length.

The Mexican government's reply which is a lengthy one, sets forth that the Carranza government is doing the best it can to cope with conditions in rfemote and sparsely settled regions still affected by the results of the civil war, and suggests that Americans in those remote places come into populated centers, where they can be protected. Referring to robberies of paymasters of oil companies, the Mexican government declared the oil companies had declined guards for them either on grounds that the presence of guards invited attacks by bandits or that the guards misbehaved. Both assertions, the Mexican government’s note declared, are unfounded. The Mexican government, the note further said, has Offered to reimburse the robbed persons of moneys lost. ;