The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1914-03-25
TO CONFER AGAIN
HUERTA READY TO REOPEN NEGO'
TlATIONS With Lind
WIsON CONSIDERS PLAN

hOJdSS CIIA A'AAA'eSAt NA
With Lnd-Efforts Are Made for
Secrecy But Mexican Capital
Thinks Financial Blockade Has
Brought Huerta to His Knees.
Forced by the increasing serious
ness of the financial situation in Mex
ica, President Huerta at last appears
ready to resume negotiations with
John Lind, President Wilson's per-
sonal representative, which were
broken off last August, if reports cur
rent in the Mexican capital Wednes-
day night are true.
Jose Lopez Portillo y Rojas, min
lster of foreign affairs, has been d.
rected to reopen the unofficial diplo-
matte exchanges with Mr.. Lind, ac-
cording to the report and for that
purpose went to Vera Cruz Wednes-
day. Where he will meet Mr.. Lind
is not known. Every effort has been
made to keep the meeting a secret,
and should it fail to take place, the
government could repeat the explana-
ton already given that the minister
IS taking the trip to celebrate Saints
day.
President Huerta Wednesday sum-
moned to the national palace sixty OF
the wealthiest Mexicans residing in
the capital and intimated that lndl-
rect financial support would be high
ly agreeable. He reminded them
that a decree issued several months
ago, calling on owners of haciendas
to equip and maintain ten men tor
purposes OF self-defense, never has
been complied with. Such compliance
would mean, according to the official
figures. the maintenance OF about
100000 men, as it is estimated that
there are $4,000 haciendas and small
er ranches within Federal jurisdic-
ton.
President Fuerta also requested
these men to furnish him with horses
for 100 cannon expected to arrive
soon from Japan and Europe. He
asked their moral support, suggest
ing that they form sort Of military
society, not for actual fighting, but
that insignia be worn by the mem
bers to identify them as being loyal
to the government.
. The United States government
says Washington dispatch, Will well
come a reopening Of negotiations
with the Huerta government or the
constitutionalists and will be glad to
consider any proposal that will tend
to draw the various factions together
into a plan for the restoration Oh
peace in Mexico. This is the attitude
Of President Wilson revealed Thurs
day. after reports received at Wash
ington saying Senor Portillo y Ro]as'
minister for foreign affairs IN the
Huerta cabinet, had gone to meet
John Lind, Mr.. Wilson's personal rep
reseptative, to seek a resumption OF
the peace par,eys.
Senor Rojas has been mentioned
as the man who would succeed Huer-
"a if he retired, and the object OF the
visit to Mr.. Lind, 1t has been report
ed, was to acquaint the presidents
envoy with his personality. Incl
dentally the president in talking with
callers, while remarking that he had
had no official report OF any new par
leys, spoke in complimentary terms
OF the Mexican minister Of foreign
affairs as a man Of high character.
What the president emphasizes IS
his informal discussion on the Mexl-
can situation is that he, as president
of the United States, has never
sought to approve or disapprove OF
individuals who may aspire to the
presidency Of Mexico, and that he has
no list of men whom he holds under
so-called ban because Of alleged
completely in the assassination OF Ma
dero.
His refusal to recognize Huerta, II
may be stated on the highest author
ity was not based on any personal
antagonism to Huerta, but on the
ground that the constitutionalists
would never be reconciled to the man
who had overthrown Madero anc
suarez and that governments set W
by arbitrary force and not rejecting
the popular will should not be deal'
with bv the United States.
Likewise, in the consideration o.
individuals who might seek recognl
tion by the United States, the prlncl
pie President Wilson has been work
ing on is that recognition extended t
any one set up in the presldenc!
without some popular expression o.
without the Endorsement Of all fac
tions could not lead to peace.
In considering peace proposals
from the Huerta government tn
United States, it is known now, VII
do all that it can to forward peace
frl settlement, but the conviction j
az strong with the president Thurs
dav as it was when he sent his IN
structions to John Lind last summe
that peace in Mexico in the last anal
ysis is dependent upon terms tina
will be acceptable alike to the con
otitutionalists and the Huerta admin
istration.
One of the suggestions made t
President Wilson lately contemplate
the sending Of commission o
Americans of prominence to investl
gate conditions in Mexico. Cnotlcla
reports have had it that both Car
rama and Huerta would receive sue
a commission.
President Wilson is carefully cor
sidering the suggestion. said to nav