The Hawera Star. THURSDAY, AUGUST 7, 1924. THE MEXICAN OUTRAGE.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 7 August 1924, Page 4

The Hawera Star.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 7, 1924. THE MEXICAN OUTRAGE.

Delivered e*ery evening by 6 o’clock in Haw ere, Manaia. Nf'rmanby. Okaiawa, Eltham, Patel*, Waverley, Mokoia, Whakamara, Oiianga/, Meremere, Fraser Road, and Otakeua Manutahi, Alton, Harleyville, Mangatcki, Kaponga, Awatuna, Opunake,

About two months ago the Mexican Government ordered the British diplomatic agent in Mexico City (Mr. H. A. C. Cummins) to leave the country. He refused and shut himself up in the British Legation, and the Obregon Government . attempted to starve him out by trying to prevent food passing into the Legation. Mr. Cummins had been in charge of the British Legation at Mexico City since 1917, and had lived in the country for over thirty years. The grievance which the present Government has against Britain is that the latter has not recognised the Obregon Government, which secured its position by revolution. The charge against Mr. Cummins is that he had sent misleading reports to London concerning incidents in which British interests were involved. The London Spectator says that “the particular incident, however, in which Mr. Cummins has fallen foul of the Obregon Government is his -support of an .Englishwoman, Mrs. Evans, who owns an estate in Puebla. The Government have tried to Seize this property, and Mrs. Evans has resisted. Mr. Cummins, in the face of very strong opposition, has daringly compelled the Mexican Government to send her a guard of soldiers, as she is also in danger from incendiaries and looters. Mr. Cummins informed the Obregon Government that they would be held responsible for the safety of Mrs. Evans. This explains the announcement- by Mr. MacDonald in the House of Commons that the chief charges against Mr. Cummins amounted to this, that he ‘had made rude communications to the Mexican Government.’ ” Mr. Cummins left Mexico City on June 21. A sister of Mrs. Evans (Mrs. Pettus, of San Francisco) said that Mr. Cummins’ protests against the Mexican agrarian party stealing land from Mrs. Evans on orders from the Government brought him into disfavour. Qn his arrival in London in July, Mr. Cummins gave a graphic story of the siege of the Legation in Mexico' City. His story, as sent by cable on July 1.3, stated that the Mexicans ordered his departure on June 10. but he was determined to remain until he received British instructions. Chains .and 7iad-loc-ks were fastened on the Legation gates; also a stout wooden door, and steel shutters "barred any attempt at

forceful entrance, but a letter was smuggled to Mr. . Cummins from an unofficial soui'ce. He went on t® speak of Mrs. Evans, who was largely the cause of the Mexican Govei'nment ordering him to leave, as a wonderful woman. Whit e-h ai red and nearly fifty, she stands on her farmyard battlements with a rifle on her shoulder defying assault or beating oil' attackers with the courage of the bravest man. When farming she wear's riding breeches, and when visiting the city she dresses in the. height of fashion. lhe last- I heard of her she was still at her post on the house roof. I believe it will take a large force to defeat her, as the attackers dare not kill, seeing that the whole world knows and is thrilled by the wonderful resistance of Mrs. Evans. She is the sort of woman bom only once in a century.” Unfortunately Mr. Cummins’ belief that the Mexicans would not kill the brave woman has proved inaccurate, and, in spite of the assurances of the United States Ambassador, Airs. Evans i has been put to death, her efforts to receive protection proving unavailing. Cable messages state that Obregon has ordered an enquiry, and apparently it is his chief concern to absolve the Government of which he is the head from blame. If the statements are correct that the efforts to take land from Mrs. Evans were made by order of the Government, and that it was chiefly due to the protests made on her behalf that Mr. Cummins was ordered to leave, the Mexican President will have great difficulty in satisfying Britain that his Government is blameless and can be absolved from the crime. Mexico, fearing trouble, may punish those who murdered Airs. Evans, but unless it is proved that they acted without authority, the Government will be held responsible, in which case Britain will have to see that the nation’s honour is upheld, and Alexico will be called upon to pay the penalty, probably a heavy indemnity. British citizens all over the world will await with interest the result of the inquiry and the decision of the British Government on the matter. Nothing can restore the life of the brave woman, but the nation expects the Government .to take such action m will make plain to foreign countries that the rights and lives of British subjects must be .protected.- No doubt the decision of the British Government, as reported by the Daily Herald of June 19, that Mr. Cummins be withdrawn and that “a total breach with Mexico” be made, will give rise to many questions in political circles in Britain, and Mr. MacDonald will probably be called on to give a detailed account of the events which have led up to. the recall of Air. Cummins and the murder of Airs. Evans. The Government will also he called on to state what action it- proposes to take towards Mexico.