The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1914-05-20
MEDIATION STARTS
AMERICAN REPRESENTATIVES, PAY
EEDIATORS FORMAL CALL
PRESSURE upon REBELS.

Exert influence in an Effort to Per.
shade Them to Enter Mediation
Proceedinss-Their Ammunition
Supply Almost Out.
First formal steps in the program
Of mediation in the mediation prob
lem were taken at Washington We'd
nesday when Justice Lamar and
Frederick W. Lehman, together
with their secretary, H. Percival
Dodge, who will represent the United
States, paid their respects to the
three South American ENJOYS who
have undertaken, by diplomacy, to
solve the Mexican question. The rep
resentatives were presented by Coun-
seior Robert Lansing to the secretary
Of state. It was a call Of courtesy
but paved the way for informal con-
serences in advance OF the first meet
ing at Niagara Falls, Ont, next Mon
day.
Confdentially, word was received
by the mediators direct from the for
eign minister at Mexico City that the
Huerta representatives would arrive
ct Habana and leave Immediately for
Niagara Falls via Key West. An
earlier dispatch from Consul Canada
at Vera Cruz indicated that the Huer-
"a delegates might delay several days
at Habana.
Reports were current that strong
pressure would be brought to bear
on the Constitutionaiists from sew
eral quarters after the expected VIC
tory at Tampico, to get them to par
ticipate in the mediation. President
Wilson during the day promised a
delegation OF oil we'll owners at Tam
pico that as soon as the fighting
ceased he would make strong repre-
sentations to the authorities in con-
troll there to reassure a resumption
OF oil operations.
Secretary Bryan announced that
the United States had no intention OF
holding Lobos island, and that if the
Mexicans would keep the navigation
lights burning there the American
forces would depart content. The
mediators do not regard the Looos
island incident as menacing the
forthcoming negotiations.
Secretary Garrison cab!ed Gen.
Funston at Vera Cruz to demand Of
Gen. Mas, the Mexican commander.
q full explanation Of the death OF
Private Parks. who strayed into Mex
ican lines several days ago. Pro-
test against the reported execution Of
Parks and the alleged burning Of his
body also has been made through
diplomatic channels to President
Huerta. Secretary Garrison holds
that as Parks was in uniform he
should have been treated as a prison
er of war. Gen. Funston thinks Parks
went insane.
The mediators were busy prepar-
ing for their departure and Counselor
Lansing spent much time with the
American representatives, familiariz-
ing them with the general situation.
Mr.. Lansing afterward said that the
status OF the American representa-
ttves would be unofficial as they
would bear no credentials and have
no plenipotentiary powers. All steps
would be referred for final decision
to the secretary of state and the pres
ident.
Suggestions will not be made di-
rect by the representatives, all sug-
sestions coming from the mediators.
but the Americans might suggest
means to the mediators in their un-
official capacity.
The practical certainty that the
Constitutionalists would be in con-
troll Of Tampico made it apparent
that the United States soon would be
in a position to bring about return
to normal conditions in the oil dis
trict. Negotiations with the Consti-
tutionalists to permit foreign en-
ployees to return, to the wells Will
be begun as soon as news of the occu-
nation Of the district is received.
Another phase Of the situation
which produced much discussion in
executive quarters was the question
Of ammunition shipments destined
for Tampico. which the Constitution
alists say are en- route.
Constitutionalists say that after
the battles Of Tampico and Saltillo.
now being fought. the rebels vii!
have little ammunition left with
which to continue the fight against
Huerta. With practical embargo
on the importations O: munitions o.
war across the American border. in
effect the rebels believe their on!y
chance Of getting additional anmuni-
ton will be from abroad.
News Of fighting at TamDico came
IN brief disnatches to the navy de-
partment. At Tampico Rear Admiral
MAYO reported firing at q. m. con-
tinuing ali the morning. He report
ed that the federaIs lacked ammunt-
ton and could not hold out. Fed
eral sunboats took a position far Ut
the river part OF the day. bnt at
D. m. withdrew to the outer harbor
The Inference was that they were
getting out Of range Of the rebel ar
tillery. Shortly afte-waTd reports
came from Admiral Mayo that the
evacuation had begun.