The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1913-08-20
Washington Thinks Huerta
Plays Dual Role to Gain
Popularity.
LIND ALREADY RECOGNIZED
Anti.American Element in Cab
met May Have Started
RumOr of Break.

WASHINGTON. Aug. 1.-THE Mexican
situation took another turn to-day and
officials here having obtained denials that
Iiuer,a had delivered any ultimatum to
the American Embassy in Mexico city
were tonight In a more optimistic frame
of mind.
The President and his advisers pro-
fessed to hope even that their mediation
plan may yet be approved by the Mexican
President. They were satisfied with the
representations which President Huerta
had made to Nelson O'Shaughnessy. the
American Charge. In Mexico city. in the
course OF the day and were willing to ac-
cept luerta at his word when he dis.
claimed all responsibility for the official
statements that an ultimatum had been
sent to this Government demanding rec
Ognition by midnight or the discontinue
ance OF all diplomatic relations.
The statement on which last nights .
startling dispatches from Mexico city
were based Is supposed to have been
made by Senor Crrutia, huertas MIN.
lister OF Interior, to the newspaper cor
responderts at Mexico city, and Official
dispatches received here to-day said that
this Cabinet officer had been accused In
Mexico city of being responsible for the
announcements.
Better Expla nation Needed.
While President Huerta's disclaimer
has been accepted by officials Of this Gov
eminent there is strong feeling here
tonight that it does not AFFORD an ade-
0uate explanation for events in Mexico
city. 1t Is felt that more complete
account of last nights de, elopments must
be forthcoming from Huerta before he
can expect this country to believe that
he had nothing to do with the issuance
OF the defiant statement from one OF his
Cabinet officers.
Pending this explanation many officials
here will regard the entire incident as a
plant" arranged by the agents OF
Huerta with his approval for the effect
II was expected TO have upon public sen.
t.ment in Mexico.
This belief fits in well with the theory
which has strong support here to the
effect that Huerta Is playing a double
game in his negotiations with the United
states, hoping to make political capital In
Mexico from his defiance Of the United
States while at the same time giving
the Washington officials assurances Of
h.s good will and intimating q disposition
~ yield assent ultimately to the proposals
President Wilson has communicated to
Inn.
The Administration now has official
records of statements made In private to
the Presidents confidential agent. John
Lind. which are directly contradictory Oi
statements authorized BY President Huerta
and published In Mexico city.
Defiant Statements IssueI.
When announcement was made here
that Lind had been despatched to Mexico
city on a mission Of peace Huerta caused
10 De issued by his Minister Of the In
t"yor. Senor Urrutia, . defiant state
nent that Lind would receive no con-
sderation other than would be accorded
any American citizen and that no recog'
milton whatever would be accorded to his
mission, Following out the spirit oi
this statement. the military Ofiicer ir
charge of Vera Cruz. where Lind was to
land from the battleship New Hampshire
announced that he would not be bs re-
sponsible for the safety Of the Presidents
representative when he arrived there
These statements were plainly intended to
.nhame the Mexican public mind and t0
impress them with their rulers feeling
Of Independence regarding the wishes Ol
the United States.
BY his every act which concerned
Lind since the lstter's arrival on Mexi.
can SOIL President Huerta has failed te
live up to the spirit Of these boastfu
statements. First Of all adequate mill
tary protection was furnished Lind a
Vera Cruz and Mexico city when HI
landed. Further. Land had not been ID
Mexico city two days before he had a.
audience with tho Mexican Minister ol
Foreign Affairs In recognition OF hii
status as President Wilson's representa-
tive, This was In nat reversal OF thu
attitude taken by Minister Urrutis II
ms public statement.
Two other interviews between Lind ant
the Minister Of Foreign Affairs followe'
closely and at one Of these Lind presented
10 the Minister for transmission to Presl
dent Huerta 4 letter ne had from Presi
dent Wilson. giving him the status Of
confidential agent with plenipotentiarl
powers. This letter set forth that Lin'
was authorized to speak for the President
that no was well informed on this Govern
ments attitude toward Mexico. and tina
he had come on . peaceful mission to tn
southern republic. The letter was signe'
by President Wilson. but was not ad
dressed At a subsequent interview witt
the Foreign Minister Lind delivered tn
proposals entrusted to him by Presiden
Wilson for the mediation Of the Mexics
difficulties.
Tho President's letter was delivered o
Thursday night. On Saturday Presiden
Huerta sent 70 Lind . note recognisipl