The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1914-05-15

Washington, May 15.-Tampico's
fall, considera bly, enlarging the Consti-
tutionalists' sphere of control and CIV
ing to them a seaport through which
munitions of war may be directly i'm
ported, has injected into the Mexican
situa ton several new, phases ito occu-
tpy the attention OF official Washing,
ton. The last conference of the South
American mediators was held yester-
day and later one of the ENJOYS, Am
! bassadOr De Cana. departed for Mag
ara Falls via New York.
The American government already
has begun representations to the con-
| stitutionalists to secure protection for
! the American and other foreign opera
| ttves returning to the oil wells. Amer
lean warshipS have gone up the Pam
uco river to their old stations before
| the town, ard return of normal con-
ditions is confidently expected by off,
| cialS here.
At the mouth of the river are the
| federal gunbOats with a TART OF the
federal garrison. The captains Of the
ships have asked for an interview with
Rear Admiral Mayo, which was grant
/ ed, but its purpose has not yet been
/ divulged.
! Discussion yesterday centered chief
\ IL upon shipping arms and ammuni-
/ ton through Tampico. The constitu-
tionalists are short Of ammunition and
are certain to avail themselves Of their
first seaport to ship war supplies into
Il the interior for the campaign against
Mexico City. The American govern
ment has never made clear definition
Of It's policy toward shipments of arms
into Mexico from countries other than
1 the United States Arms were prevent
ed from reaching Huerta through Vera
Il Cruz because the customs house there
was seized ~ the American forces as
an act of reprisal.
| = At Puerto Mexico recently a cargo
of arms consigned to the Huerta gov
ernment was not landed because the
agents Of the line so ordered, the
| American government denying that it
had in any way influenced TINS decl1
| sion. At M&nzaniilo and other west
coast ports, however, no effort has
| been made to prevent arms from
| reaching Huerta, and the belief was
general here today that the consti
tutionaliSts would have no difficulty In
importing munitions through Tampicc
lin any auap.tty.
when asked what the position OF
the United States would be, Secretary
Bryan replied that there would be time
enough to discuss that question wher
1t arose.
The presence of the two Huerta gun
/ boats in rampico harbor after the
| 6VdCuaIlOn LIldL CIIys Dy the IGu6ra
troops has led to the conjecture thai
they are to be used to blockade the
port, stopping not only Importation ot
arms and ammunition, but all kinds o
supplies for the constitutionalists Il
is believed that 1t is with the purpose
z of learning whether Admiral Nave
would respect such a blockade that tn,
commanders of the federal gunboat!
asked for a conference. Though dis.
inclined to pass upon a Hypothetical
case, naval experts agree that as lon.
/. as the federal commanders are able tt
(. make this blockade really effective 1
must be respected by foreign shipping
= The recognition of an effective block
ade by a belsigerent does not. it Il
held, in any way involve political rec
Iognition OF either party to the strife.
The Lobes island lighthouse inciden
! is regarded as closed by the state de
y slpartment,
Secretary Bryan has acquitted o
I blame In, the matter of the light, Lieu
ltenant Commander Jeffers of the de
lstroyer Tanning who gave the light
{ keeper certificate that he had takel
9 possession of the light. by, force. TIL
= secretary intinated that the only crit
4 Iicism might lie against the construc
: ton that might have been placed upoi
: that formality.