The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-08-30
CONCESSIONS MAY Be MADE,
WASHINGTON OFFICIALS IIOPI.
THAT HUERTA'S DILNTORN
NTTITCDE AN INDICA-
TION OF YIELD
ING
Wilson'S Message to Congress to BE
Read ut Noon Today, Unless Hucrta
Comedies to Proposals Before That
Timc-Littlc Hope for Present Ad-
ministratiOn i'm Mexico.

Washington, Aug. 26-The dilato-
ry attitude Of the Hucrta government
today gave administration officials
hope that concessions might be mace
to the American proposals for peace
in Mexico, but indications pointed to
row when President Wilson is sched-
uled to read his message TO both |
houses of congress. He will define
the policy which he thinks the United |
States should pursue toward its
Southern neighbor.
24-hour postponement Of the
presentation of the message which |
was to have been read today was
agreed to after a joint request by
FredericO Gamboa, Mexican foreign |
minister, and John Lind. 1t follow
ed repeated efforts on the part Of
ing Of the document deferred indie
nnitely
Mr. Lind left the Mexican capital
early today for Vera Cruz.
Mr. Lind has made certain supple
mentary suggestions to Senior Gam
boa, constituting no departure from
the fundamentals of the American
note. The original proposals were
announced as follows:
/. Cessation of hostilities and a
definite armistice.
2. An early and free election.
3. Huerta to bind himself not to
be a candidate
4. Agreement by all parties to abide
by the results Of the election.
Mr.. Lind informed Senior Gamboa
that he would stop in Vera Cruz and
could be reached there in case there
should be any reply to his last sug-
gestions. For several days Senior
Gamboa and Mr.. Lind have been
fencing.
Officials deny that Mr.. Lind had
gone to Vera Cruz to avoid any en-
barrassment in the Mexican capital
following the publication there Of
President Wilson'S message. II was
said that Mr.. Lind. having virtually
concluded his mission, went to Vera
Cruz chiefly to impress upon the
Mpvicon nd, ipi
row noon positively was the last mo.
ment the United states would wait
before proclaiming to the world the
position it has taken towards the
Huerta government.
Discussion today centred chiefly on
the absence of any demand for the
immediate retirement of Huerta.
which generally had been supposed Is
part of the American note. 1t was
suggested by officials, however, that
this government could not logically
call upon Huerta to resign a post
which it never recognized him as
legally holding.
SO far as the United States is con-
cerned Huerta is not the constitutions
ally chosen provisional president of
Mexico because of the irregularities
attending his assumption of office.
The Washington governments in
sistence that Hucrta elipinate him
self from the presidential race if an
election is held is based on his own
promise contained in official reports
that he would not be a candidate.
While administration officials re-
gret they were unsuccessful in bring
ing things to a definite point through
the Lind negotiations, information
official and unofficial, indicates to
them that the Iuerta government can
not last much longer.
With foreign governments support
ing the American policy, there is little
hope, according to the official view
here, for the Hucrta government to
obtain any funds abroad to pay its
army or meet running expenses.
This was a day of keen and un-
usual tension in official circles The
postponcment of the message read
ing with the possibility that an
eleventh hour concession might be
made, developed a general feeling Of
anxiety for news from the Mexican
capital The only message from Mr..
Lind received up to a late hour to-
night merely reported his departure
from Mexico City for Vera Cruz.
President Wilson and his family
attended play, but the president
kept in touch with the White House.
Secretary Bryan spent the evening at
his home and no announcements
were made at any Of the government
departments
Good Reason for His Enthusiasm.