Las Vegas optic., 1914-04-16
MEXICAN DICTATOR SEES Wisdom
OF YIELDING TO THE DEMANDS OF ]
WILSON TO SALUTE AMERICAN FLAG
not question that the dictator had
seen the wisdom of yielding.
Il Was No Bluff

oOSA tJlS WAouOHl ol yl6iuNuS.
Il Was No Bluff
Those officials who knew the lang
uage Of the communications Charge
O'Shaughnessy has been presenting
were sure Huerta had been convinced
that if he did not yield, the American
government would compel him to do
so by force. The last vestige of any
suspicion he may have had that the
United States was bluffing was said
to have been removed by messages
from his representatives in Washing
ton telling him that President Wilson
was thoroughly aroused and meant to
force the issue to the end.
It became known that General
Huerta had been led to believe that
his own statement of apology last Sat
urday was ample redress; but when
President Wilson was apprised Of the
situation he was not satisfied and de-
manded salute. 1t was authorita.
lively stated that the only point re-
naming to be determined was the
number of guns and that this would
be speedily agreed on. At the state,
war and navy departments officials
considered the crisis passed.
1t was we'll understood in diplomatic
circles that both Count Won Bern
storff and Jules J. Jusserand, the Ger
man and French ambassadors respect
lively, had been active through their
foreign offices in bringing about q re-
lief Of the Mexican crisis.
A Matter Of Precedent
Senator Shively said that it was
the international custom to return
such a salute as is demanded from
the Huerta government Such return
salute could in no way be considered
as recognition of the Huerta govern
ment. The Huerta regime is defac-
to government and the defacto govern
ment which has been asked by the
United States to salute the American
colors. 1t is an international custom
to return salutes
Officials pointed out that last week
q proposal to salute the Dolphin with
the condition that the Dolphin return
the salute was rejected. It was ex-
planned that the proposal to salute
the Dolphin was merely In the form
of an inquiry from an aiEdersecretary
Of the Mexican foreign office, and It
proposed merely a ships salute and
not salute to the American colors,
as is demanded.
AS a precedent for returning q sa-
lutte the state department yadEais to
the case Of the French cohsdlsat San
Francisco who in 1854 was taken be-
fore q local court in violation Of a
treaty. France demanded a salute
and an apology A compromise was
reached by which a French fleet was
sent to San Francisco and the French
colors we're saluted by the American
shore battery. The salute was then
returned by the French flagship and
the incident was closed.
Naval authorities generally favor
the return OF salutes rendered in sucf
! fashion as part Of national repara
ltion for an affront, on the theory that
s1Ich salute is an amende honorable
and must be met in that spirit by {
proper acknowledgment.
Senator Lodge, ranking republican
Of the foreign relations committee
differed with Acting Chairman shive
lly. He contended that if Huerta's sa
hIte were to be acknowledged tn
whole apology would be rendered val
ueless. Mr.. Lodge maintained that
was not a question Of precedent.
President Wilson. describing his ad
vices from Mexico as very encourae
ing. told callers late today that ther
was no known precedent against re
turning a salute and that in the mai
rlral course the United States woul
return salute when fired.
The president held that no recogn
ton would be involved in returnin
Huerta's salute and that when it wa
fired the incident would be close'
Ists 1rs.vn