The Press. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1914. Danger to Foreigners in Mexico.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14903, 17 February 1914, Page 6

The Press. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1914. Danger to Foreigners in Mexico.

The statement in yesterday's cablo messages to tho effect that English bluejackets have been landing machine sums consigned to tho British Consulate in Mexico City in view of possiblo attack , empbas_.es the grave state of affairs still existing in Mexico. A special correspondent of "The Times," writing from Tampico a littlo over two months ago, said -that undisciplined "rebel" bands were roaming about tho country, and unless they wero suppressed they would, in a short time, ruin by far tho greater number of foreigners who depend for their living upon Mexican property, whether it be nines, ranches, oil-wells, wholesale or retail .trading houses, no matter what. For a time foreign property was respected, but recently Lord Cowdray's J-exican* Eagle Oil Company had presented to it by rebels in the Tuxpan district a demand for £10,000 down, or £2500 a month, the covert threat behind this blackmail being the destruction of tho wells.

Not has much respect heen 6hown even for the lives of British subjects. Wben 'The Times" correspondent despatched hi_ letter, the British Conwas,jtrymg.. , to - M a rl?f^T??i lail^ l ' J '^ i " 1 ' •-*.-■ •**■-:. >."""*_* cft_-

out what had becomo of fonr separate Englishmen, somo of them with families, who were reported to have been either killed or carried off to be held to ransom by rebel bands. Numerous cases aro cited not only of Englishmen but of American- being robbed and even killed by rebels. In the case of an American named Gorow, tbe ruffians were actually seen, after despatching their victim, to tear his goldfilled teeth out of his mouth for what they would fetch. In .another case, an old man of 74 -was strung up by the neck, so that his toes just touched tho ground, because in response to a demand for £100 1V» was only able to produce £_0. Ho made a last appeal as an old man to be allowed to die naturally, and they released him on the promise that ho would fetch £'300 from his bank in Tampico. When he did not return the marauders wrecked the farm, robbed tho "peons," and seized their women.

Tho British Minister, Sir Lionel Carden, at an early stage of the war. told all the English Consuls to warn people living in lonely place- to make ready to come into towns. It will bo remembered that ho recognised General Hucrta, and he held derided views as to the duty of thc United States Government to intervene to put a stop to rebel atrocities. The British Government, in deference to American busceptibilities, transferred him to Brazil. The New York "World" promptly hailed this step as "a most distinguished ''proof of Britain's goodwill," and earnest of the British Government's intention not to let British financiers block Piiasident Wilson's programme for the preservation of Latin America from concession-hunters, and not to allow any interference with the President's Mexican policy. This is all very Well, but respect for American susceptibilities may be carried too far. If the Government of the United States intends to adlVire to its policy of crying "han/U-o'J" to ail tho rest of tho world, so far as Latin America is concerned, it must at .cast take some steps to stop the dH-.truction of American and British property and outrages on American, as well as British subjects.