The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-02-10
No Official Communication

washington, February denomination
of the reported gravity of the situation in
Mexico City was contained in dispatches
received early this morning at the state
department. Huntington Wilson, the As
sistant Secretary of State. arrived from
New York at midnight and took charge
of the situation in the absence of Secre-
tary Knox, who is ILL., Shortly afterward
the following official statement was is
sued;
Ambassador Wilson reports that ru-
NOR is current that the arsenal has sur
rendered to Felix Diaz; that mounted
police, artillery and rurales from Tacu-
baya have declared for him and the ma
tional palace is the only place still loyal
to Madero. The ambassador says that
Generals Banquet and Angeles are re-
ported to be coming to the capital with
troops from Toluca and Cuernavaca, but
that it is impossible to procure details
Although official messages from
Mexico were meagre and long delayed.
staffs at the White House, state de-
partment and Mexican embassy sat up
uptil late tonight eager for details or
the revolt in Mexico City, which re-
suited in the release from prison OF
General Felix Diaz and his assumption
of command of the rebel army rein
forced by the troops which detected
from the Mexican federal command.
Secretary Knox is i'll and unable to
leave his home, but such news as was
received was sent to his residence by
messenger while President Taft was
informed by secretarys of the situation
as it developed in press dispatches
from the Mexican capital
The state department sent hurried
request to Ambassador Henry Lane
Wilson at Mexico City for a report on
the situation especially with reference
TO the safety of American citizens. Up
to midnight, however, nothing had
been received beyond brief advices con-
frming news of the revolt under Gem
eral Diaz' leadership and the killing
of General Bernardo Reyes.
Inquiries into the situation, based
upon the dispatches thus far received,
brought forth the assurance, however,
that it would not influence the pres
ent administration to change the poll
icy that 1t has pursued steadily for
the last two years and that there would
be no interference with political af-
fairs of Mexico by this government,
even should the rebellion proceed to a
successful conclusion.
Every precaution. it was assured,
would be taken to protect lives and
property of Americans in Mexico which
might involve the dispatch of warships
to theNcoast towns of that country, per-
haps, the strengthening of the military
force now on the border. If Americans
were threatened in Mexico the Amer
lean ambassador would demand of the
de facto" government, whether it be
regular or rebel the fullest measure of
protection; and If injury was inflicted
lon Americans ample reparation would
be enacted.
Stirring events have led up TO the
existing conditions in Mexico. Less
than two years ago President Porfirio
| Diaz. who had served more than a
| quarter of century as President, ten
dered his resignation to the congress
as a result of a successful revolution
against his government and retired to
Europe, where he had been preceded
| by his vice president Ramon Corral
| His retirement followed a year of fierce
| revolution. the principal figure In
which was Francisco |. Madero, mem