BRITAIN AND MEXICO

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19204, 21 June 1924, Page 9

BRITAIN AND MEXICO

EXPULSION OF MR CUMMINS PRIME MINISTER’S EIRM STAND.. PROTECTION OF BRITISH SUBJECTS. Pr«a« Association —By Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, Juno 19. That a woman is at the bottom of the Anglo-Mexican trouble appears from Mr MacDonald’s statement in the House of Commons. He said that Mexico accused Mr Cummins of writing insulting letters, and demanded his immediate withdrawal. These letters, which Mr MacDonald read, related to an attempt by tho Mexican Government to dispossess a Britisher (Mrs Evans) of her farm. Mr MacDonald said there was nothing objectionable in the letters. If a Foreign Office objected to such’ communications there would soon be no diplomatic relations at all. The Mexican Government’s behaviour was inexcusable. It had threatened to break into tho legation by June 16 if Mr Cummins did not surrender. Mr MacDonald had warned tho Mexican Consul-General of the gravity of such a step, and had requested that action be suspended until the Holder Mission had arrived. Tho Mexican Government had refused this; but the United States Government, at Air MacDonald’s request, had arranged for the safe withdrawal of Mr Cummins, and to take charge of the legation. Mr MacDonald emphasised the necessity of protection for British subjects and the safeguarding of the British Government’s dignity, and concluded: “I am not quite sure what has happened to Mrs Evans, but it is believed that she has not met with harm. The whole story is a most romantic one. Mr Cummins’s letters said that she was left defenceless and alone, except for tho assistance of a brave young American."—A. and N.Z. Cable. MEXICO RECEDES. EXPULSION PROCEEDINGS STOPPED. MEXICO CITY, June 20. (Received June 20, at 10.35 p.m.) The proceedings by the Mexican Government to expel Mr Herbert Cummins, the British agent, were ordered to be stopped by President Obregon upon his arrival at Mexico City. This action was taken after the President had conferred with the foreign Minister and learned that Great Britain had ordered Mr Cummins’s withdrawal on Friday.—Reuter. Tho Prime Minister and Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Mr Ramsay MacDonald, on April 29 appointed Sir Thomas B. Hohler, Minister at Budapest, to proceed on a special mission to Mexico to investigate and report on tho general political situation in that country. Sir Thomas has been Minister at Budapest since 1921, and was in charge of the Legation in Mexico in 1911. The question of the recognition of the present Government of Mexico has been under consideration for Come time, and within the last few months a Mexican diplomat was in London for informal conversations.