The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-03-02
Willin 6 to Return to
M e xico if He
Hears 1t.
STANDS READY TO
FULFIL PROMISE
Fugitive Ex-President Still Has
Strong Following, and Organ
ization Is Sufficiently Active
to Give Madero Much
Worry-Many Would
Welcome Him.
Especial to The Times-Dispatch. ]


New York March 1.-General Por-
sailed into his exile from Vera Cruz
on May 81 OF last year. after the revo-
luton of Francisco AIadero had
brought his many years of dictatorship
to an end. is willing to come back 10
Mexico and lead the people out of their
present difficulties II "a strong call" Is
sent to him. Such IS the statement
made by him in letter of recent date
which he sent TO a former trusted
lieutenant and official under his gov
ernmcnt. who is now in New York
General Diaz is now living in retire
meDt with his son. Colonel Pornrio
Diaz. Jr, and his sons family at Cape
Dahl. near Toulon. In the sou n of
France. He settled there after spend
Ing many months Of his exile in
switzerland and Northern spain.
Willing to Return.
The ex-President of M.Xico eXpresse3
his Willingness to return 10 the land
over which he ruled as dictator for
thtrty-seven years. in these words. cop
led from the original letter, with the
translation made by the recipient OF tn,
letter:
Il said in my farewell that IL the
Mexican people needad me would
come again. Should the people in
VOWED in present difficulties send a
strong call 10 me would fulfil my
PROMISE"
In his reference to his farewell
General D!az has evidently had in
MIND the words which ne addressed 10
,ae loyal remnant OF mis- army which
Gu9!ded the house in which he lived
IN vera Cruz FOR three days before his
oepartuTe on the steamship ypiransn
On the morning OF his departure the
.usitiVc eN-President expressed q wish
10 say fareweil TO the soldiers and de-
taehnent Of sailors from the revenue
cutters San Juan de Ulloa and IRA
soza, constituting his guard. and they
were drawn un before tho steps Of the
'o "I w,,i Pi az then addressed them:
my word OF honor that II at any lime
this republic be involved In any great
trouble. Will come back and undar
nave fought much, and with the help
o. this army, SO loyal l will know
now 10 conquer as 1 once conquered
The army to which General p,az
referred at that time comprised less
than 500 man. but they We're for the
most part Oazaca Indians from Diaz's
own state and intensely loyal. They
surrectos who attempted to hold up
the ex-Presidents train when he was
feeins from Mexico City TO the Gulf
port
Three days after his sailing from
Vera Cruz General Dlaz said 10 a re-
porter who was on the steamship:
u VIII never return 10 Mexico un-
less my country should be threatened
been the Interpretation OF my fare
we'll address. I Will not return be-
cause of internal danger
When the recipient OF the recent let
ter from General Tiay
DAY IL he believed the former Pres
ident had modified his discrimination
not 10 return 10 Mexico to intervene in
domestic troubles or IL he took Diaz's
present declaration to indicate that he
believed that Mexico was being threat
ened by foreign power. and that he
that individual said that the exist
cnce OF both conditions might be
thought to have had an influence upon
General Diaz's mind.
Stnl Has Large Following.
lie said very positively shat there
was stn n large following OF the
former President In Mexico, particu-
iarly among the business men and
pie people of the state of Oazaca and
adjoining states In the west These
men. who were members OF the old
CientiHco party. IS the group in power
on the latter years OF DiaZs presi-
dency was Vailed. had never accepted
the domination of President Madero,
ne said. and would he glad TO see = =
Mexico for more than a quarter of n
century. return TO power.
The informant would not specify
how strong n call he thought would
be necessary 10 bring General Dia2
back TO Mexico. He gave strong
animation. however. that in the event
Of continued disorder and the multi
phcation Of candidates for the presi-
dtncy the demand for the return OF
the old ruler. already strong enough
10 worry President Madero, would be-
come almost unanimous. BY impli :
cation he allowed it to he understood
that Diaz organization was already
In existence, and that the eXilcd cx-
President had not taken the initiative
in making the promise to return at
Of "a