Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-09-17
NO CHANGE LIKELY
IN MEXICAN POLICY
Message of Huerta to His Fol-
lowers Without Effect
in Washington.
BATTLESHIPS TO REMAIN
ON GUARD AT THE PORTS
Congress May Be Asked to ADOPT
Resolution Indorsing President
Wilson's Course. =

through Congress indorsing President
wilson's Mexican policy NAV follow
Huertas message to the Mexican con-
gress. unless the White House counsels
tnink otherwise. President Huerta he
gan his message last night with the in
timation that the policy of the Wilson
administration is not approved by tho
american people.
ma. statement is a repetition OF
me ih'imauon made in the Gamboa-
hu correspondence. which. when first
eu' came near resulting in declara-
.oh os congress upholding the course Of
the administration. Indeed it was with
some dinculty that enthusiasts were re-
| strained at that time from snr;ppipg
! the proposition. Mr. Saunders of yjr-
shia going so far as to bring II before
| .he democratic caucus Of the House fol-
rowing President Wilson's address 10
Congress.
senator bacon. chairman Of foreign
| relations committee, took the ground
at the time. in an interview published
IN The star that the reception given
me me rresident at the joint session of
the House and Senate was more inn
pressive than mere words could be
Huerta's Statement Offensive.
onquestfonably President Huerta..
pronouncement last night read nm
! pieasantiy to statesmen in Washing
ton today The fact that it was repe-
| tition added to the disagreeabIe i'm
preston and lent it more sinister sig
| nificance
Some of the more impetuous friends
o. the administration in Congress are
| IN favor or meeting this statement
| with a ringing declaration of support
or President Wilson by the American
congress. but it is thought at the Cap
ltoI VIII hardly press the matter until
they are assured that il is entirely ac-
| ceptable to President Wilson.
The danger of opening the Mexican
| situation to discussion in Congress Is
! realized by some of the administration
leaders in Congress. As the record
now stands, there Is nothing to show
division of sentiment political or in
dfvidual on the course of the admins
| tration.
Congress, however, would be open to
fullest debate 1t is argued, and no one
can tell what range the discussion
would be created for development Of
disgruntled expression.
ONE congressman think this is just
what Huerta is seeking in finging the
| taunt at the President; that he is try
ing to drive a wedge in the American
! Congress and bring about either a
political division or segregation of op-
posing opinion.
Republicans Talk Patriotism.
There is small chance of effecting q
political division. as the republican
leadership Of both House and Senate
is intent upon maintaining the Mexi-
can question rs one of patriotism and
ha snls
| yidual criticism of the Presidents
| course, and Huerta would be pleased
to have it developed for home con-
sumption" In bolstering up his case be-
| fore his own people.
Senator Bacon, chairman Of the foreign
relations committee, and Representative
| Flood, chairman of foreign affairs COM
mittee, were both out OF the city TO-DAY
and there was no meeting OF those COM
| mittees. Other senators and representa-
tives were disposed to withhold comment
| until the wish of President Wilson is de-
| termined. For the most part, their
| Judgment is adverse to opening the Mex
| lean question to debate at this time.
Solid Support Expected.
1t is believed that Congress Will solidlv
support the President in maintaining
| American warships in Mexican waters a.
! long as American citizens remain in Mex
| leo or there are American property in
| terests to be safeguarded.
| Moreover. the broader reason, involv-
ing the duties of this government to for
eign nations In the peculiar circum-
stances, as set forth in President Wit
/ sons address to Congress. will compei
the retention of a naval force In those
waters until peace Is restored.
The battleships probably Will remain.
despite Gen Huerta's declaration that
/ they will be unwelcome after another
month. There was no official expression
i of this governments attitude TO-DAY, but
! 1t was plainly indicated that the United
States will keep its vessels off the Mexi-
| can Pacific and Atlantic coasts as long
as the present insecurity OF Americans
! warrants 1t was pointed out that in IN
| ternational law the United States clearly
! has a right to protect its nationals i'm
foreign country where internal disorders
prevail, and to that end may dispatch
| warships to ports where American inter-
| ests demand protection.
Ships at Other Ports.
Within the last year American ships
also have been dispatched on such mis-
sions to ports in Nicaragua, Venezuela
and the Dominican Republic. where revo-
luton or threatened revolt made Ameri-
cans apprehensive of their interests.
Visits from vessels of the Asiatic fleet
have calmed the fears of Americans in
the Chinese revolutionary districts.
1t was pointed out today that American
warships in Mexican waters would con-
tinue to adhere strictly to the Injunction
of President Huerta not to entail an at
tack upon the dignity and sovereignty OF
Mexico but further than that IL was not
likely that the Wilson administration will
accept dictation from Huerta to the
circumstances in which American vessels
may lie off the Mexican coast.
Bryan Ready to Discuss Measure.
An abstract OF Huertas message is
being studied by Secretary Bryan. who
is prepared to discuss It with President
Wilson. Particular attention has been