The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-09-20

Recent Diplomatic Exchanges.
Mexico City, Sept. 16.-In spite
of the rumors which dealt impartially
with attacks upon Americans, an
army uprising and the assassination
of the Mexican President, Independ.
ence Day came and went with moth
ing to mar the holiday spirit.
Politically the 81 cat event was the
reopening of congress and the read
ing Of the Presidents message. But
without doubt Gen. Huerta was mov-
ed less by that than by the spectacle
Of thousands of students citizens and
soldiers doing him honor as he stood
on the balcony of the National Pal
ace reviewing the great parade, the
feature in which public interest CEN
tired.
More than four thousand volun-
teers and students, ranging in age
from IL years upward, had their
taste Of military disc fort, stand
ing for hours in the drlzzling rain and
plodding through muddy streets.
They bore the hardships lnanfully
however, marching proudly petween
dense lines Of OnloOkers, through the
principal business streets. past the
Palace and to various points, where
they disbanded.
1t Is estimated that close to ten
thousand marchers passed in review.
They included a thousand Of Blan-
quet's veterans who did hard service
in the Zapata country. regular ard
volunteer cavalry and infantry, ru-
rales. mounted and foot police, artil-
lerists. cadets and hardship corps.
Next to the students and volunteers,
who received the most enthusiastic
| applause, were several ambulance
automobiles filled with white gown
ed young women of the Red Cross
hospital service.
President Huerta and his aides,
riding through the street after the
conclusion of the early ceremonies at
Chapultepec, were greeted with wild
applause. The Presidents greatest
triumph appeared to be at his recep-
ton at the join session of Deputies
and senator's when he entered to read
his message. He was greeted with
vivas. both by the crowd surround.
ing the chamber and that which filled
the hall. Six o'clock was the hour
set for the formal opening Of the
session and presidential salute of
Fl gunds was fired. Prompt to the
minute the Executive mounted the
steps of the building. stopping only
an instant at the door.
The city was abalaze with str' .gs
of incadescent lights -~igh' All
public buildings were profusely dec
GRATED. Until midnight the thorough
fares presented the appearance OF
New Years Eve in the big cities OF
the United States.
Gen. Huerta said the strained Dip
lomatic relations between Mexico and
the United States had caused the
Mexican nation to suffer unmerited
afilictOn and had retarded the paci-
! fcation Of the country. Neverthe-
less he hoped for an early solution
of the differences between the two
nations and to sec Mexico and the
United States once more united in
bonds of friendship.
The Provisional President drew n
distinction between the attitude of
the Government of the United States
and that Of the people of that ma
ton, saying "the tenseness Of our
diplomatic relation with the govern.
ment of the United States Of America
although luckily not with that peo.
pie" had put Mexico in a state OF
apprehension.
The period Of six months allowed
American warships to remain in Mex.
lean waters by special permission of
congress will expire next month. In
the opinion of the president a renew
81 of permission should not be grant
ed.
The message was disappointing to
many who had expected that Frovi-
sional President Huerta would deal at
sorne length with recent diplomatic
exchanges. This subject, however,
he said, being so delicate and the
permanent commission of congress
being already informed" he passed
with bare mention.
The deputies and senators in joint
session filled the floor Of the cham
Der of deputies. The balconies were
packed, the diplomatic gallery being
filled with foreign representatives and
their families.