The Hartford republican., 1913-11-07
BRYAN Denies l
UL7IMATUM
Secretary Talks Guarded1y
as to Situation.
Sees No Reason to Define Such
Through The News
papers.

Washington, Nov. 4.-The Mex
lean situation was the subject OF
widespread comment in Washington
today. but the days developments In
official quaters added little Of a DEF
mite or tangible character concen-
ing the exact status of affairs.
The reports from Mexico City that
a new and somewhat summary move
had been made by the United States
toward the elimination of Gen. Huer-
Ia, brought no response from the
State Department or other official
sources, beyond a brief statement
from Secretary Bryan that no '''ulti-
matum" had been presented.
Whether some other conlmunica-
ton, less drastic than an ultimatum.
had been presented, Mr.. Bryan posi-
lively. declined to state. maintaining
that the Government should be free
to shape its course Of action on such
through the press.
President Wilson left early to cast
his vote in New Jersey, returning
late this evening. Meantime Secre-
tary Bryan remained at the State
Department, where there were no signs
of unwonted activity beyond the con-
slant inquiries concerning the reports
from Mexico City of anothr urgent
communication.
In well-informed quarters It's was
admitted that negotiations have
been proceeding in pursuance Of
President Wilson's discrimination to
secure the elimination of Huerta as
factor in Mexico. That this in
volved the delivery to the Mexican
authorities of another communication
was also admitted. though it was
said this communication did not par
take of the nature of an ultimatum.
+ This much-abused diplomatic term,
1t was pointed out, marks a stage in
negotiations where one party nOti-
f:es the other that a compliance with
certain demands must be made by a
fixed hour and date, leaving II to
be inferred that force would be used
If necessary to bring about com
pllance.
The term is often popularity used
to indicate an urgent diplomatic
communication that in effect = cal
culated to bring the negotiations to
a definite issue, and some officials sue
gested that 1t. probably was In the
last sense that the term was used In
reports of acton taken at Mexico
City.
The correspondence already pub
lished shows that President Wilson
has from the beginning insisted that
the United tSates Government can
not recognize the legality of Huerta's
claim to the presidential office, and
also that the so-called elections held
on October 26. in Mexico, fell short
of meeting the Washington view OF
the requirements of the constitution.
Consequently, 1t was said today.
1t is a LOGICAL deduction that this
last note or communication was In
the line OF development of policy
which President Wilson has consist
emily pursued from the beginning
and that In substance II amounted
to a rather sharp reminder to Gen.
Huerta that the United States COVERT
mens now looked to him TO meet It's
expectations and give way to some
regularly constituted authority cal
culated to bring peace TO Mexico by
commanding the hearty support Of th
faction now at war. .st
In communicating these views,
however. II Is said. the officials here
are desirous OF having their move
ments proceed In q normal and uOu-
inal manner. without an over empha-
sis. which would imply *'at all the
resources Of diplomacy had been ex-
hauated