The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-09-06
OBSCURITY IN MEXICO.

There seems to be a good deal Of un-
certainty about what is actually going
on in Mexico, The Washington inter
prctations of the rather blind reports
Tint are received, are altogether fa-
vorable to President Wilson IS methods
and desires; still. it would be prema-
turo to suppose that this is tho case in
any candid way. for il is to be noticed
that the advices from Mexico are often
absolutely contradictory, 1t was given
out by member of the Mexican Cabi-
net that Huerta had sent a message of
absolute defiance to President Wilson,
on the receipt of Special Representa-
tive Lind's proposition. This was
promptly denied by Huerta- The truth
defiance was made in Mexico, without
any intent of it reaching the United
States. II was sent for Mexican blus-
ter and TO pander to the vanity Of
Mexicans, with the idea that Huerta
could safely defy the Great Republic
Of the world, and promptly denied
when the fact got out.
Again. it was wired 8 week or more
ago, that Huerta would probably COM
ply wholly with President Wilson's de-
mands, and that the delay which he
asked in the sending of President Wal
son s message to Congress was for the
purpose of preparing the way for his
back-down. A day or so later this in
tent was scornfully denied, and it was
pointed out that Huerta conld not pos
sibly even consider the idea of ac'
ceding to President Wilson g terms.
Again, it was stated that President
Huerta would resign for the purpose of
being a candidate for the Presidency
at the October election, and that in
the meantime, to qualify under the con-
stitution, he would resign as Provi-
sional President and install General
Trevino as his temporary successor, or
perhaps his dummy, to keep the seat
warm for him when he was " elected -
President Any such action as that,
however, would simply be a subterfuge,
and would not in any way help Huer-
as position with President Wilson.
1t is quite difficult, therefore, to see
what weight, if any at all, should be
attached to these rumors, for to at
tach any weight at all to them would
be to admit that Hucrta was very much
concerned about President Wilson s de-
mands upon him with respect to the in
ternal affairs of Mexico. But to ad-
nit that Huerta is concerned about this
is 10 admit that President Wilson has
an influence in the internal affairs Of
Mexico that neither Huerta nor any
other Mexican official would be in the
least disposed to concede.
Looking at the matter impartially,
should say that IL is extremely unlikely
that we are getting much real informa-
tion from Mexico. The whole situa-
tion there is so clouded that it is i'm
possible to see clearly to the center,
and get any satisfactory idea Of the
true condition of affairs, and but lit
tie can be known absolutely, From
this little, however. it is clear that
great hatred against the Americans is
being built mp in political circles in
Mexico, and fierce resentment is be-
ing famed against the interference OF
President Wilson in the internal affairs
OF that country. Such interference is
not only wholly unwarranted in inter
national law, but it is an absolute re
versal of the ideas Of the fathers Of The
Republic and a contemptuous ignoring
Of all the precedents in our diplomatic
service from the first. It is possible
that something definite and favorable
may be worked out from this Mexican
foment, but at present it looks as
though we have made bad mistake,
and that that mistake has created an
adverse situation which il will be ex-
trcmely difficult to overcome.