Cummins Affair

Warning. Premier Ramsay MacDonald of Britain informed the Mexican Government that if its persecution of H. A. C. Cummins (TIME, June 23), British Charge des Archives at Mexico City, was not stopped, Mexico would not be recognized by Great Britain.

Mexico's Excuse. The Mexican Government issued a statement which read in part: "The Hon. Ramsay MacDonald, British Prime Minister, held last Monday an interview with the Mexican Consul in London, in the course of which Mr. MacDonald stated that he regarded the attitude of the Mexican Government toward Mr. Cummins as a discourtesy incompatible with friendly relations. . . .

"The Department of Foreign Relations of Mexico replied to His Majesty's Government yesterday that it regretted exceedingly having to disagree with its view in considering that the request for Mr. Cummins's recall constitutes a discourteous act ... it is an elementary principle that any Government has the right to request other Governments to recall, with or without explanations, any of their diplomatic officials or agents; it is also an elementary duty of international comity to recall them and not to endeavor to impose them on other countries. . .

"The Department added that the Mexican Government . . . exceedingly regretted its inability to withdraw its instructions and that, in order to obviate further difficulties, it would consider as a sincere demonstration of His Majesty's Government, the immediate recall of Mr. Cummins . . . who for many years since has been the main obstacle for a better understanding between the two countries."

British Action. At a Cabinet meeting in London, it was decided to cancel the Mission of Sir Thomas Beaumont Hohler, to hand over British interests to the care of the U. S., to recall Mr. Cummins. Following these acts, Premier MacDonald made a detailed statement on the situation in the House of Commons. Said he:

"In order to try and improve the relations between Mexico and ourselves, I decided to send to Mexico the Hohler Mission and informed the Mexican Government that, on the arrival of the Mission, Mr. Cummins would leave . . .

"The following month, I was informed that Mr. Cummins must withdraw at once, owing to insulting letters written by him to the Government. The letters were written owing to the Mexican Government seeking to dispossess 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 in her behalf. . . ."

The letters were read and duly cheered. They were couched in strong language for diplomacy but they were in no sense "insulting." Continued the Premier: "The behavior of the Mexican Government has been inexcusable. [General cheers.] 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 until the arrival of the Hohler mission, which I was still prepared to send.

"Next day I received a refusal, and I 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."

Mrs. Evans. During the Cummins controversy, Mrs. Evans and her few defenders, among whom was an American called Camp, were being besieged by armed Mexican soldiery, who were seeking to dispossess of her ranch the American-born widow of an Englishman.

Consequences. No serious development was thought likely to result, but recognition of Mexico by Britain was indefinitely postponed. This reacts disadvantageous to both parties.