Daily Kennebec journal., 1911-04-05
PEACE CONFERENCE.
Former Mexican Ambassador and Rebel
Agent at Washington.

Washington. April An important
peace conference. the first meeting be-
| tween the Mexican ambassador here and
a representative of the Mexican revolu-
tionists, was held in Washington on Sun
day, March 26, the news of which, hther-
| to matter Of much secrecy. was OBJ
tanned tonight by The Associated Press
Senior De La Barra, formerly Mexican
ambassador to the United States, it was
learned, conferred with DR. Vasquez Co
mez, head of the confidential agency of
| the revolutionsts and the authorized rep
resentative of Francisco l. Madero the
insurrecto chief. Just Il few hours before
Senior De La Barra left for Mexico City
to take up his duties az minister of for
eign affairs in the cabinet of President
Diaz. The conference was arranged after
Senor De La Barra was chosen minister
of foreign affairs, by mutual friend here
who had asked both men if they were dis
posed to talk to each other
Tonight DIR. Gomez confirmed the details;
of the conference and message was re-
ceived here today from Senior De La
Barra defining his position. Though il
took place 10 days ago there has been
practically no change in the attitude OF
the two parties to the conference.
The two men met at the residence of
the ambassador and for an hour thor
oughly discussed the situation in Mexico.
DR.. Gomez has been handicapped since
then in being unable TO communicate witt!
Francisco l. Madero his chief, either by
telegraph or mail, and the latter there
fore is as yet unacquainted with the de
tails of that conference
Through a mutual friend tonight.
therefore, a request was sent to Mex
leo City that in order that peace ne.
gOtiations may be initiated permis-
sion be granted for the transmission
of certain dispatches from DR.. Gomez
relative to peace to Francisco l. Ma
dero in Chihuahua 1t is believed that
the cordial meeting between DIR. Gomez
and Senor De La Barra before the lat
ters departure informed and unofii-
cial as it was, may lead to the speedy
settlement of the Mexican troubles
Senor De La Rarra refused to dis
cusS the question of the resignation
Of President DiaZ. DIR. Gomez had
said the rcvolutionists would not in
siSt on the immediate retirement of
Gen. Diaz, fearing that Anarchy might
result If proper provision We're not
made for a successor. DR.. Gomez said
that what his party was fighting for
was participation in governmental af-
fairs. Cabinet changes alone he said,
would not suffice. He spoke of va
rious abuses OF the court and the ar
bitrary acts of Governors and other
officials which had led to discomfort
in Mexico and emphaSiZe that the
only guarantee of reofrms which would
mean anything would be to allow the
rcvo,utionists some power in the af-
fairs Of the country.
ScHor De La Barra replied that the
workings OF political parties proper
~ organized would be advantageous
| To the country, but that they should
be courtenanced only when founded
! upon p"aceablc methods and in con-
| formity with law. Ther" was much
| DISCUSSION of schemes for the modiii-
| cation Of electoral laws. Scnor De La
B1lra referred to tn" study ALREADY
| made "f reforms in those laws ANA
| expressed confidence that these re-
forms would be strictly applied at
coming elections, especially in Pu"bla
and other states.
II pr Gomez doubted whether election
reforms would meet with success in
Pucbla in the short time eIapsing be-
fore the elections. Further he wanted
to kn ~ what guarantee would be CIV
en- the rcvolutionists if they laid down
their arms. that their lives would be
safe and that they would not be per-