The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1913-09-06
Washington Officials Smile
at Huerta's Offer to
Help Refugees
HOLD HIM STRICTLY
TO HIS PLEDGES
Declare He Cannot Run for
President Without Breach
of Faith

Washington, Sept. Administration
officials gasped yesterday, when they
learned of Gen. Huerta's impudent offer
to pay the expenses of Americans desir-
ident, in an announcement issued
through his minister OF foreign affairs,
declared that his feelings toward Amer
leans are so benevolent that he will fur
nish special trains, if necessary, free of
charge, to help Americans out of Mexico.
He also declared that he would contrib
ute funds to pay the difference between
the Storage accommodations to be pro-
vided for Americans by the United
States government and the frst-class
passages to which the American refu-
gees are accustomed.
While the administration viii pay no
attention officially, to this gibe from
Huerta, the effect which this insulting
offer will have in Mexico and other
Latin American countries is not in the
least underestimate here. 1t is not
believed that Huerta expected TO get
rise out of the United States or any
American citizens by his sneering offer
but that it was intended merely as an
other play to the gallery in the effort to
humiliate the United States in the eyes
of the Mexican people and Latin Ameri-
cans generally.
This latest stroke, peculiarly charac-
teristic of Latin American diplomacy, is
expected to make a great hit with the
populaee in Mexico City and to strength
en- further the conviction in the Mexican
mind that the national honor is being
ably defended by Yictriano Huerta and
that he is making the United States
come off second best in the diplomatic
exchanges between the two countries.
The reason for the boldly optimistic
tone of the Wilson administration with
regard to the Mexican situation was
disclosed here yesterday. 1t is the in
tention of the administration to put the
very best face on everything with re-
spect to Mexico, for the present at least,
as part of the policy of convincing Huer-
ia that he must eliminate himself from
Mexican internal affairs.
The administration chooses to regard |
the second Gamboa note and certain /
verbal statements of Minister Gamboa |
as conclusive pledges on behalf of Huer- |
ia that he will not be candidate for
the presidency. The administration in
tends not only to assume that Huerta |
has pledged himself, but to lose no OPP
portunity of letting Huerta know that |
he is regarded as having given such a
promise. Furthermore, it is the presi |
dents purpose to sink into Huerta's |
mind in every way possible that this |
government viii regard him as guilty of |
the grossest breach of faith if he by any |
manner or means manages to make him |
self candidate for the presidency. The |
purpose is to discourage Huerta from
trying TO gain an elective term in the |
presidency by showing him that the
United States is unalterably opposed to
him and will proclaim him as a de-
faulter on his pledges if he tries it.
The president has indicated that he
expects the elections to be held next /
month as planned. 1t was learned yes
terday, however, that the administration
will really not be in the least surprised /
if elections are not held. 1t is proposed,
however to assume that they will be
held until the contrary fact is demon
strated with the purpose of exerting a
sort of moral pressure upon Huerta to
carry out his announced plan.
Much interest was shown yesterday in
official circles in the announcement that
former Ambassador Zanacona is coming
to the United States, supposedly as the
personal representative of Huerta.
1t is stated here that there will be
nothing for him to do in Washington
unless he chooses to reopen the discus
sions regarding acceptance of the presi-
dents demands upon Huerta, as COM