Evening star., 1914-03-16
Prominent Statesman of the
Republic Proposes Confer
ence of Rival Elements.
REFERS TO SUGGESTION
BY PRESIDET WILSON
Offer to Consider Any Propositions
Submitted-Mr. Bryan Orders In
vestigation of Postmaster's Death.

A new movement to settle the Mexican
became known here today, when
copies Of letters from Emeterio de la
Cara, prominent Mexican now in New
YORK, proposing a peace congress of men
representing all factions in Mexico. were
received in Washington.
Senor de la Cara points out in these
letters that he was offered the position
of Mexican consul general at New York
by Gen. Huerta, and was elected a MEM
Der Of the new congress in Mexico, but
declined both positions because he wanted
to work for peace and be free to do as he
pleased.
There have been reports that some such
plan was to be proposed by Gen. Felix
Diaz, nephew of the former Mexican die
tator, who came here last week with
group of men and announced he had
plan for solving the Mexican question.
Gen. Daz is away from Washington at
present, but is expected to return tomor-
row.
Senior de la Cara came to Washing
ton about a month ago following his
return from Europe, but left for New
York soon afterward. 1t was reported
in Mexico City at one time that n.
had been executed. He calls his n,O
movement the National Union" AID
Is its president.
Basis of the Movement.
1t is Senior de la Garza's idea that in
one of his notes to Gen. Huerta Presi-
dent Wilson, after proposing that free
and fair elections be held, said he would
be willing to hear Of any other sugges-
tons to solve the question II Mexico
could propose any. The peace congress
idea is his answer to this proposal.
Mexican consitutionalists in Washing
plan is impracticable, and that the only
way to settle the question is to fight it
out. They said that the only thing such
a peace congress could result in would
be compromise, and that compromises
have always brought sorrow and dis
aster to Mexico. They speak of Senor
de la Cara as "Senor de la Farca."
Bryan Orders Death Investigated.
cial investigation Of the death of Frank
V. Johnson. postmaster at Tecarte, Cal.
who was killed and burned by Mexicans
Saturday night while defending his prop
erty. Military authorities from Fort
Rosecrans already are investigating. The
killing occurred on American soil. and Is
said by officials here to be within the
jurisdiction Of California state authori-
ties.
None Of the foreign governments to
which Secretary Bryan has transmitted
copies of Gen. Carranza's last statement
regarding the right of American consuls
to look after foreign interests in Mexico
has yet made any response. Secretary
Bryan himself declines to make any COM
it is significant of his purpose that the
Secretary states he will continue to in
struct the American consuls to intervene
to protect foreigners IN the war zone pre-
cisely as in the past. -
If they should be. obstructed in the pur-
suit of their inquiries or find their repre-
sentations unheeded by the constitution
alist authorities the State Department
may feel called upon to consider the adop-
ton Of other means OF safeguarding the
lives and property not only OF Americans
but other foreigners in Mexico, though al
present it is not ready to indicate what
these may be.
q. s. Vessel Ordered to Topolobampo
The situation at Topolobampo. the
constitutionalist port in Sonora, on the
coast of the gulf of Mexico, where two
Mexican federal gunboats are attack
ing the gunboat Tampico. which re-
Gently deserted the federal cause and
went over to the rebels, has decided
Rear Admiral Howard to take the
cruiser California to that port.
The California left Guaymas yester-
day, and should arrive at Topolo-
bampo today. The gunboat Nanshan
reached the rebel port Saturday.
Friday, the 18th, was the occasion Of
an engagement between the gunboats,
resulting in little advantage to either
side, according to advices from Admiral
Howard, who wires to the Navy Depart
ment. 1t is probable that the deserting
gunboat had .he aid Of shore batteries in
resisting the fire of the sister ships she
has renounced.
The federal gunboats were reported to
have sunk derelict in the harbor pas
sage to prevent the escape of the Tampi-
co. Under what conditions the battle of
Friday was fuught is not known. The
situation, Admiral HowaN reports, was
not changed by the conflict.
Reinforcements have been sent by the
Huerta government to Vera Cruz The
federal gunboat Progresso arrived Satur-
day, carrying a force of troops. Coast
defenses have been strengthened. The
coming of the Progresso increases the
Mexican harbor fleet to three gunboats.
Conditions are normal at Vera Cruz.
Admiral Craddock reached that port with
the British cruiser Essex Saturday.
Conditions Unchanged at Tampico.
The American dispatch boat Dolphin
has arrived at Tampico. The Dolphin
reports conditions unchanged there and
no further developments in the expected
attack of rebel forces following the re-
tirement to that city Of the defeated fed
eral troops.
Admiral Mayo hoisted his flag on the
Dolphin in the Panuco river.
Pending Charge OShaughnessy's re-
port, there was no official comment
here on the action OF the Huerta gov
ernment in giving notice that it would
refuse to meet the cost Of maintaining
the Mexican federal refugees now
held by the United States at Fort
Bliss.
1t was pointed out, however that since
the United States government has no in
tention of recognizing Gen. Huerta, and
expects to put in its claims for expense
in connection with the interned fugitives
after a new government has been in
stalled at Mexico City, the attitude Of the
Huerta regime In this matter is regarded
as of no moment.
Five Priests Slain by Rebels
in a Sinule Mexican State