Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1914-04-23
WAR WITH MEXICO IMMINENT;
CONGRESS BACKS PRESIDENT

telephoning TO those in the cipher
room at the state department until 4
O'Clock in the morning.
Shortly after o'clock Mr.. Bryan
had received two messages from the
City OF Mexico. Both were from
Charge OShaughnessy. The first was
merely formal. stating that the mes
sage Of President Wilson giving Huer-
ia until G o'clock last night to yield.
had been communicated to Portillos
y Rojas, the minister for foreign af-
fairs. and that a reply would follow.
The second dispatch was in the nature
Of a reply, although the officials quick
~ perceived that II was not clearly
responsive and definite as to the de-
mand made by this government, but
raised new issue as to the United
States agreeing in writing TO return
the Huerta salute.
Mr.. Bryan summarized the Huerta
reply in a telegram to the president
at White Sulphur Springs. and soon
thereafter had q lengthy long-distance
conference with the president, going
over the points Huerta had raised.
While the reply was considered ia
vorable in its general purport as to
saluting the American flag, yet II again
parleyed over details and conditions.
AS result of the long.dlstance talk,
Mr.. Bryan dispatched a further mes.
sage to the City of Mexico, making it
plain that President Wilson would
listen to no counter proposals or sug-
gestions. but must have an unequivo.
cal acceptance of the American de-
mand at the time stated-6 o'clock
at night.
| While the exchanges we're going on
by cable between Washington and
Mexico, the navy department was cen
tering it's attention on further prep
arations for any eventuality which
might occur. At 10:30-shortly after
Huerta's latest dilatory message hat
been received, orders we're sent to the
battieship Mississippi with an aero
plane corps and 600 marines and the
torpedo fotilla at Pensacola, Fla, tC
get under way at once, joining Ad
miral Badgers feet as it entered the
Gulf Of Mexico and preceding the fee
to Tampico.
The torpedo f1otilla consists OF 2:
destroyers, the tender Dixie and tn,
scout cruiser Birmingham, but sew
eral OF the destroyers are in reserve
so it is probable only IS will sail.
Secretary Bryan had planned to g,
| to church at IL O'Clock, but as tn,
| cable messages began to come in h
changed his plans and went to tn
state department. There he wa
Joined by John Lind, the president
/ personal representative in Mexico
: and the two went together TO the pr
2 vate telegraph office OF the state d,
! partment TO consult over a Difficult
! piece of deciphering in the lates
4 message from Huerta. Later, the SCI
e rotary and Mr.. Lind Joined Secretar
Tumulty at the White House and tn
8 latest exchanges we're further gon
s over in detail.
d Later 1t became known that III
r. messages showed that Huerta was M
raising objection to the salute itsel
+ but. as 10 the details under which II
l. salute would be returned. The maj
Il condition was that the United STATE
=. agree in writing that the salute
J. fred, instead OF relying on the assn
y, ance given by Admiral Mayo for a r
D, turn salute, was construed by officia
as a wilful and adroit move on Huerta
c. part to obtain an assurance dire
e from the American government viii,
Ie would be capable Of being constru,
d. by him as a recognition OF the de fac
ID Mexican government.
w. ~~-~-~~~~-~I~~~~-~~~
Knew Or. BigbilI.