The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-08-23
HUERTA REJECTS PROPOSAL.
DECLINES TO ACCEDE TO FOUR
IMPORTANT DEMANDS.
In Addition To Refusal, Mexican
President Injects u Coun,erclaim
for Recognition.

Mexico City. Aug. 20-The pro
posals Of the Washington governmen
which Mexico rejected in toto were:
First. complete cessation of hostili
ties; second. that President Huert;
resign In favor Of a president adj in
terim; third, the fixing of an earl,
date for the presidential elections
fourth, that Gen. Huerta should no
he candidate for the presidency.
An additional feature of the Amer
lean proposal was the request for
reply to the question as to what, In
the opinion OF Gen. Huerta, the pres
ent conditions were due and what 1,
the remedy.
Gen. Huerta's fiat refusal to acced,
To the four demands would appeal
20 be sufficient reason To consider tn,
negotiations between the two gov.
ernments definitely concluded, but In
replying To- Washingtons pointed re.
guest for an explanation regarding
conditions in Mexico and the cause
Gen. Huerta himself injected into the
controversy what might be regarded
as a counter demand, that OF recogni.
tion.
In general way President Huerta
places the blame for Mexico's civil
war upon the United States. He In.
sists that had II not been for Presi-
dent Wilson's refusal to recognize his
administrator he long ago would
have suppressed the rebellion, and
even now, he asserts, the United States
can indirectly enable him to restore
order I'm n comparatively short time
He asks OF the United States govern
ment only recognition and the with
drawal OF the American battleships.
FREDERICK Gamboa, Mexican for
eign minister. and other officials OF
the government cont we to reassure
the public-utilizing the local press
Tor the purposeTthat negotiations
have not been concluded. but on the
contrary, are progressing cordially
and satisfactorily. The foreign minis
ter goes so far as to say that i'm his
opinion a wholly satisfactory arrange
ment win be reached within few
days.
AT the American embassy no ono
Is promising OF denying q resumption
OF thu negotiations. Mr. Lind did not
appear cptiInlstic on this score today.
The Mexic2n government Is not spe-
cific as co why IL anticipates All
amicable arrangement.
Virtually all Mexicans regarded
Gen. Huerta's action as patriotic, but
many regarded II as far from wise.
Mr.. Lind and the Mexican foreign
minister had another long conference
today. but the nature of the conver-
sation has not been revealed.
liz the United states insists upon
the first OF Its demands. that hostili-
ties cease forthwith, those familiar
with conditions in Mexico believe fur
ther negotiate, MS will be impossible
There are scores OF minor leaders and
thousands OF their followers who
would continue to fight. Az to the
second demand. President Huerta has
repeatedly announced that he would
not resign and that he regards 1t as
a duty TO direct from the presidency
the pacification OF the country and
those closest To him do not believe the
representations OF any power will
cause him to quit office. The only
condition upon which he might be
expected to resign at all would be for
the purpose Of becoming n candidate
for president, which Is prohibited In
the fourth demand. AS to- the ques-
tiOn OF elections. these already have
been called for October 26. and II
conducted In accordance with Mexi.
can law, which provides for certain
preliminary work. could not well b,
held ut any earlier date.