§ Mr. BALDWINMay I ask the Prime Minister if he has any statement to make in regard to the situation in Mexico?
§ The PRIME MINISTERIn view of what has been published in the Press, I think His Majesty's Government ought to inform the House of what actually has taken place since the last statement was made.
Last Monday I gave an account of the events that led up to the present relations between Mr. Cummins, who has been act- 2327 ing as our representative in Mexico, and the Government of that country, and I need only remind the House, in view of what I have noticed in the Press since then, that, in order to try and improve relations between Mexico and ourselves, in April I decided to send to Mexico the Hohler Mission, and at once informed the Mexican Government, through its Consul-General here, that such was my intention, and that, on the arrival of the Mission, Mr. Cummins would have leave. On the 13th of the following month I was informed that Mr. Cummins must be withdrawn at once, owing to insulting letters written by him to the Government. The letters were written owing to the Mexican Government seeking to dispossess a Mrs. Evans, a British subject, of her farm. The proceedings, as reported to me, were irregular and illegal, and Mr. Cummins would have been lacking in his duty had he made no representations on her behalf. I wished, however, to examine the letters complained of. They are brief, and I shall read them to the House. They were addressed to His Excellency General Aaron Saenz, Secretario de Relaciones, Mexico, and the first, which was dated 19th December, 1923, was as follows:—
§ British Legation,
§ Mexico.
§ 19th December, 1923.
§ "MY DEAR GENERAL SAENZ,
§ In the last paragraph of my note to Mr. Pani on 17th January last I mentioned that I had been instructed to impress solemnly upon the Authorities who exercise power in Mexico that the Government of His Britannic Majesty must hold them responsible for the safety and well-being of Mrs. H. E. R. Evans.
§ I regret to inform you that Mrs. Evans last night received news to the effect that her hacienda of San Pedro, Coxtocan, was being attacked and the buildings thereon destroyed by fire. This British subject left the capital by train this morning with the intention of reaching her property by any means that may become available.
§ I beg that Your Excellency will take the steps that circumstances may require in order to afford this British lady due protection.
§ I have the honour to be, my dear General Saenz, with the highest consideration,
§ Very Sincerely Yours,
§ (Signed) H. A. C. CUMMINS."
2328§ The second letter, dated the 31st December, 1923, was as follows:
§ British Legation,
§ Mexico.
§ 31st December, 1923.
§ "DEAR GENERAL SAENZ,
§ The attention of His Majesty's Government has been called to losses that have recently been inflicted upon the Tiahualilo Company in the State of Durango, and the Salinas of Mexico Limited in the State of San Luis Potosi, British enterprises that have been obliged by Federal Army officers to deliver to them horses, saddles and fodder.
§ It is unnecessary to mention to Your Excellency that British subjects in this country and Mexican citizens in British territory are exempted, by the Treaty of 1888 between Great Britain and Mexico, from all requisitions of this nature, but His Majesty's Government will be grateful if the Mexican Government will recall these terms of agreement to military and State officials, and instruct them that demands of this character should not be mach upon British nationals and their interests.
§ I have the honour to be, my dear General Saenz, with the highest consideration,
§ Very Sincerely Yours,
§ (Signed) H. A. C. CUMMINS."
§ That is the second letter which is objected to as being rude. With regard to the third letter, I had to telegraph for a copy of it, and, therefore, I am reading it from the telegraphed copy. It will be seen that certain unnecessary words are omitted, but I will read the text of the telegram, which was despatched on the 15th May, 1924. It is as follows:—
§ British Legation,
§ Mexico
§ 3rd May, 1924.
§ "MY DEAR GENERAL SAENZ,
§ I would by these informal lines make a last appeal to you and General Obregon on behalf of Mrs. Evans. Also it is the desire of His Britannic Majesty's Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs that Mexican Government should be made fully aware of the seriousness and dangers of the position in which they have placed this British subject, and I would, therefore, recall to you that not only constitution and law of Mexico forbid the course taken by the Government of Mexico against this person, but surely laws of man forbid the persecution and despoiling of a woman, alone in the world and defenceless. At this moment, when armed forces are being sent against her to take away that which she has acquired in accordance with laws of Mexico, authorities are demanding, at the house in which Government soldiers recently employed fire and robbery, immediate payment of large sum of money on account of taxes.
§ You will be aware of circumstances in which Mrs. Evans' appeals for Amparo are 2329 at the moment and know that on legal grounds acts of authorities cannot be justified, but I would recall to you that President of the Republic has also issued decree expropriating the whole property for national purposes, and that, therefore, Mrs. Evans in resisting occupation by individuals may be said to be defending land which chief of the Executive has by decree reserved on the ground of public utility.
§ Whilst also mentioning that Governments of Great Britain and United States have informally made earnest representations on Mrs. Evans' behalf, I would beg you to take into consideration that orders have been issued to military force at San Pedro and Coxtocan to refrain from taking any part in perilous circumstances in which this lady is placed. and that, therefore, she is at this moment left defenceless and alone except for the aid of brave young American who has gone to her assistance.
§ This whole matter is incredible to His Majesty's Government, and more so to me in view of proofs I have had in the part that General Obregon would defend and help any woman, and not set armed and dangerous men against her in district where already landowners have been cruelly murdered.
§ I have the honour to be, my dear General Saenz, with the highest consideration,
§ Very Sincerely Yours,
§ (Signed) H. A. C. CUMMINS."
§ I see nothing in these letters that is objectionable, and if Foreign Offices objected to such communications there would soon be no diplomatic relations at all. The behaviour of the Mexican Government has been inexcusable, however it is regarded. After various attempts to get that Government to hold its hand, a message came to the Foreign Office on Saturday, the 14th, that, if Mr. Cummins did not surrender himself, His Majesty's Legation would be broken into on the 16th. The Consul-General was warned by me of the gravity of such a step, and I made a final request to the Government to take no further action till the arrival of the Hohler Mission, which I was still prepared to send. Next day I received a refusal, and II requested the American Government to be good enough to arrange for the withdrawal of Mr. Cummins, to see to his safe conduct, and to take charge of the Legation and archives in the meanwhile. We have just heard from the State Department in Washington that the arrangements for the withdrawal of Mr. Cummins have been made.
§ I hope I have made it clear that we have shown every desire to study Mexican 2330 susceptibilities, compatible with the dignity of His Majesty's Government, and with the protection to which every British subject is entitled and must receive.
§ Mr. RAWLINSONWhat has happened to Mrs. Evans?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI am not quite sure. The whole story is an exceedingly romantic one, but I have the very best grounds for believing that Mrs. Evans has met with no harm, although I cannot say in what state her property is.