The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-09-06
THE MEXICAN SITUATION,
ADMINISTRATION OFFICERS ARR,
WELL SATISFIED WITH RE.
CENT PROGRESS.
Both Lind and O'Shaugrlcssy VIII
Remain I'm Troubled Country.
Seem to BE Meeting With Some
Success Now. Huerta Must Go.

washington, Sept. 3.-AdminiStra-
ton officials declared late tonight that
both Nelson O'Shaughnesyy, charge
d'affaires Of the American embassy at
Mexico City, and John Lind, President
Wilson's personal envoy, at Vera
Cruz, were in frequent communica-
tion with officials Of the government
concerning q new basis for negotia-
tons through which it was hoped to
bring about peace in Mexico.
A message from Mr.. O'Shaughnessy
reached President Wilson today and
while its contents were not disclosed
1t was said to be indicative of i'm.
portant developments in the next few
days.
The new basis for the parleys, most
Of which are being carried on orally
contemplate certain questions as hav-
ing been definitely disposed of.
The Washington government consid.
ers that 1t has made itself quite clear
that 1t can not under any circum-
stances recognize the Huerta govern
ment and does not expect any further
demands along that line. The admin
istration. though hoping for a posi-
tive assurance that Huerta. will not be
elected in. the approaching elections,
Is inclined to accept on its face value
the assertions of FREDERICK Gamboa,
Mexican minister of foreign affairs in
has two notes to Mr.. Lind, that Huerta
is ineligible for reelection, as meaning
his. elimination from the presidential
race. Washington officials think an
amicable understanding on this un-
doubtedly will be reached
With these fundamentals settled. II
is understood that further negotiations
by O'Shaughnessy and Lind would
look to the establishment of an ef.
fective armistice and the holding of a
fair and free election.
Administration officials revealed to-
night that the optimism they have
felt the last few days over the Mex
lean situation has been based largely
upon what they have construed as an
indirect assurance Of Huerta's inten.
tion3 not to be q candidate for the
presidency Of Mexico in the October
elections.
Much stress was laid st the White
House and in other Official quarters on
the assertions of FREDERICK Gamboa,
Mexican minister Of foreign affairs, in
his last note to Mr.. Lind pointed out
the ineligibility of Huerta under the
Mexican constitution. The admins
tration admittedly sees in the Gamboa
note favorable answer to the chief
American proposal that Huerta shall
not be a candidate.
BY some diplomats ana among the
constitutiOnalists here, the view is
held that the constitutional prohibi-
tion against Huerta's candidacy would
easily be .evaded by his resignation in
favor of another provisional president
some time before the election.
Administration officials, who realize
that such a contingency is possible,
believe Senor GambOa was acting in
good faith in his declaration that the
candidacy of Huerta had not been
raised as an issue in Mexico before
the United States brought it into the
discussion; that everybody there had
taken into consideration his ineligi-
bility for the presidency and had not
launched any campaign for him.
Outside Of administration quarters
much significance Is attached to the
pronOuncement Of newspapers in Mex
leo City few days ago that Huerta
would now be compelled to be a can
didate, because he hal successfully
def1ed the United States in the Lind
negotiations. Huerta's election would
not alter the attitude of the United
states-namely. that recognition could
not be extended to him.
The arrival today from Mexico City
of DR.. William Bayard Hale, personal
friend of President Wilson. who has
been making a study o, the political
conditions in Mexico, is calculated to
add materially to the presidents in
formation on the situation. Mr.. Hale
said today he. went to Mexico unofi-
cially and Of his own volition but
that any data he had gathered would
be at the service of the United States
government.
He has an engagement to talk to
President v lson at length tomorrow,
Mr. Hale denied that he secured any
documents from Mr.. Lind but it is
understood that from his recent con-
vcrsations with Mr.. Lind and his close
intimacy with the negotiations con-