The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1913-07-24
Federals Now Placed on
Equal Footing With
the Rebel Forces.
MEDIATION CONSIDERED
L. :. May Suggest Special Elec.
tion Plan to Various
Factions at War.

WAsHiNcroS. July 23.-Conferences be-
tween the President and the chairman Of
the Foreign Relations committees in Con-
ere.s to-day developed the first suggestion
Of a definite policy toward the Mexican
situation.
As n result Of these conferences II 10
certain that the Huerta Government and
the rebels under the leadership Of Car
rama will be put on an equal footing rs
regards shipments OF arms and amWuni-
ton from this country into Mexico. In
formation obtained tonight indicated that
the President will exercise the authority
vested in him in a resolution passed by
Congress on March IA. 1912. and prevent
the expectation of munitions OF war from
this country to the Huerta Government.
The supply OF arms and ammunition in
this country already has been foreclosed
10 the Mexican revolutionists through ac-
tion taken by the Taft Administration.
Important as such "a step will be for the
Huer,a Government this feature OF the
Administrations plan did not arouse as
much interest here as the suggestion that
President Wilson and his advisers had
been considering the possibility Of media
ton In tn Mexican situation.
May Prepare special El-ctior.
Nothing definite along this line came
from the White House conferences. but
there was II general expression OF opinion
that some such plan ousht to be tried.
No attem,C has been made az yet to
work out tts' dexails, but the general line
upon which the discussion proceeded was
that the United States should OFFER Its
GOOD Offices to bring about an under.
standing between the warrinK factions In
Mexico with a view to reaching a general
agreement Of the holding OF special
election in that country. TNe suggested
plan contemplated recognition on the part
OF the United St;nes Government OF the
officials duly elected in Mexico.
|, was acknow ledged that there are
many obstacles In the way OF such II
scheme and persons who are familiar with
the Administrator views on the sub
jec, would not venture an opinion as to
whether IL would be practicable. Men,
bers OF Congress who have studied con-
di,ions In Mexico expressed strong doubt
that the United States would be able. In
the nrst place. TO bring about an agree
ment among the warring factions In
that republic. and. In the second place,
tina, there would be any assurance OF
been held
Furthermore the question Immediately
was raised as to how a fair election would
be assured provided the factions In Mexico
would agree to such u proposition. The
only possible suggestion involved the
United states Government As . possible
ovtrseer. just - Il has acted In Cuba and
in the Republic Of Panama on one or two
occasions and here again great dtfficulties
would be encountered.
Deanite Policy Oatlinea.
This and other Developments Of the day
wers. however. cordially received by men,-
bers Of Congress. who accepted them aa
evidence that the Administration vaa
finally settling down to an earnest effort
to evolve a dehnite policy toward Mexico
The situation that confronted President
Wilson IN regard to the shipment of armi
and Ammunition into Mexico arose ~ the
result Of the proclamation Issued By
President Taft last March. That procla'
nation was based upon . resolution
passed by Congress which authorised The
President, I'm his discretion and with sucf
limitations and exceptions a. shall seem
10 him expedient." 70 prohibit the export
OF arms from this country Into Mexico OF
into any other American country whers
conditions OF domestic violence exist
This resolution was passed by Congress
before the complaints Of the MaderO Ad'
ministraaion. then in control In Mexico
that arms and ammunition were being
shipped In To the revOiutionists.
The proclamation issued by the Presi.
dent was Interpreted a. allowing ship
nNnts Of munitions Of war consigned ia
the Madero Government to cross the
border but as putting an embargo upon
all consignments to rebels and insur-
rectionists. As q result Of this proclama-
ton the steady how Of arms and am
munition across the Rio Grande into
Mexico for the reinforcement Of the rebols
ceased and they were obliged to look
elsewhere.
After Madero was overthrown by
Huerta the same principle was allowed Ia
apply by the Taft Administration. Arms
consigned to the Huerta Government went
through with the o. X. Of tho United
states officials. while the efforts Of the
constitutionslists and others to avail
themselves Of such supply were blocked
Repeal es Act Asked.
II has been apparent for some time
that the Wilson Administration has been
chatting under this policy. II was entirely
Out ~ Joint with the stand taken by tha
Administration against the recognition Of
The Huerta Government until after the
regular elections have been held next
October. Inasmuch a. the Wilson "A.
n'nistration failed to accept the Huerta
Government ~ entitled to recognition
was, Of course an open question as 10
whether the Administration could Justly
oeattavsd on Third Psss.