Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-05-08
| FILES PROTEST WITH MEDlATORS
AGAINST ACTIVITIES At
VERA CRUZ.
CLAIMS OPERATIONS ARE
VIOLATION OF ARMIsTlcE
Bryan Takes Position That No Armis-
tice Is in Effect-Tho Hague Treaty
Permits Nations to Prepare For War
While Truce 10 in Force-Rsply to
Be Sent to Husrta.


an admitted today that this govern
ment had received note from the
South American mediators seeking to
solve the Mexican crisis. in which COM
ment that American operations at Vera
Cruz are in violation of the armistice.
Asked as to the details of the mediat-
ing ENJOYS note Mr.. Bryan said:
1T simply sets forth what Huerta
says. A reply to the note will be
made"
No Armistice in Force.
Officials point out that neither the
United States nor General Huerta has
Yet entered into any formal armistice.
What occurred was this:
The mediators suggested hostilities
should be suspended during the period
OF negotiations. To this Secretary Bry-
an replied that it was assumed there
would be a suspension of hostilities eX-
cept to repel attack. General Huerta's
answer was understood to be an ac-
ceptance, but the exact terms have not
been given out. Mr. Bryan has sew
eral times pointed out that this did not
constitute formal armist.ce. but only
an assumption that hostilties would be
suspended to resist aggression.
Does Not Halt Preparation.
Article of The Hague convention. to
which the United States and Mexico
are signatories, provided specifically on
troop movements pending mediation as
follows:
Article 2. The acceptance ofInedia-
ton can not. unless there be an agree
ment to the contrary. have the effect OF
|,interrupting. delaying or hindering
preparation for. war"
To what extent the present suspen-
sion at Vera Cruz operates under these
rules appears. therefore. to depend
largely on the construction Of the for
hostilities would be suspended except
to repel attack.
International law holds that an arm
istice. truce Of suspension Of hostilities
should be definite and exact and not
implied.
Msdiators Ask For Answer.
Ambassador Da Cana, of Brazil, and
Ministers Naon. Of Argentina, and
Suarez. Of Chile. were astir early. None
Of the mediators would discuss the
news emanating from Mexico City re-
garding the Huerta protest forwarded
thru Acting Minister of Foreign Rela-
tions Ruiz and later confirmed here by
Secretary Bryan. That the ENJOYS or
one of them would go to the state de-
partment to negotiate further regard
ing the protest against American mill
tary operations was said to be probable
by those in close touch with the media
ton developments.
When the United States would reply
to the envoy's note was not made
known. President Wilson is said to
have been informed last night Of the
Huerta governments communication.
and it is expected the subject will be
considered at the cabinet meeting to-
day.
Protest Kept Secret.
The note from General Huerta alleg
ing violation Of the armistice reached
the mediators, who are working in the
utmost possible secrecy. day before
yesterday and was presented by them
to Secretary Bryan.
Meantime 1t was authoratively learn
ed from source close to tho media
tors that they are Of the opinion they
will be able to persuade General Huerta
that the United States has not been
violating in spirit at least the armis-
tice which had been agreed on. Other
wise stumbling block would be placed
in their way which might render vir-
tually useless their further efforts 1T
mediation.