New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-05-24
LAND THE TOPIC AT
PEACE CONFERENCE
Problem Too Varied To Be
Settled at Niagara Falls,
Say Mexicans.
AMERICANS DISPOSED
TO ADMIT CONTENTION
Two More Names on List Under
Discussion for Provisional
Government.

Discussion for Provisional
Government.
BY GEORGE GRIswOr.D HILL
Niagara Falls, Ont. May 2a.-The
second full session Of the peace con-
ference took place tonight at O'CLOCK
1t was called at the instance OF the
Mexican delegates, and brief discus
sion took place between the Mexicans
and Americans
1t is the desire Of the Mexicans that
President Wilson shall not commit
himself too strongly to any plan for the
settlement of the agrarian question IN
Mexico. They explained that 1t wouio
be impossible for this conference inter-
ligently to pledge the proposed pro-
visional government to any set scneme
of land reform because OF the innn'te
variety Of the problem, although they
are entirely willing 10 make strong
recommendation to such provisional
government TO deal with this subject
thoroughly and even drasticaily.
It is their contention that with pro-
visional government Of sufficiently hish
character the President OF the Unlteu
States should be content without ASK
ing the mediators and the delegates TO
canvass the entire situation and commit
themselves to any specific scheme OF
reform.
Force of Contention Admitted.
The American delegates seemed as
posed TO admit the force Of this con-
tention, although they reserved their
oninion until such time as they couid
consult Washington on the SUBJECT
The mediators took no part IN the ais
cussion between the two delegations
after the minutes Of the former meet
ing had been approved. The fuii con-
ference also served to allay the anxiety
of the Mexicans regarding certain I'M
founded reports which have found their
way into the public prints and have
been causing anxiety among their
friends in Mexico City. After nan
hours discussion the conference adj
iourned subject to call. Arrangements
were made for the conversation which
took place between the mediators and
the Americans this evening.
THE favorable outlook has been en-
phasized by the results OF this after
Moons conference" it was stated OFF,
cially at the end Of the second full sas-
sion of the conference.
Two more names have been added to
those under discussion for the commits
sion which, 1t is practically agreed, Will
constitute the provisional government
of Mexico. AS both the mediators and
the American government will desire
70 conduct thorough inquiries regarding
the personality and antecedents Of
those proposed before giving them their
Endorsement, this phase Of the ne
gotiations proves slow.
Advice Pours in on Mediators.
The A B mediators admit that they
are greatly entertained by the kindly
advice of those who, not knowing the
facts, are writing to them from various
quarters regarding the advisability Of
taking steps to bring the Carranzistas
into the mediation.
in the perversity OF our knowledge
we shall refuse to do anything Of the
kind" said one Of them to-day when
asked II it was certain that no steps
would be taken to induce the Consti-
tutionalists TO become party to the
mediation conference, while another.
with a most expressive shrug. added;
'The Constitutionalists have not
thought 1t worth while to send dele
gates TO the conference unless they
could dictate terms. We should
worry"
The Mexican delegates are waking UP
to the injury that is being done by the
junta maintained by the Constitution
alists in this country, whose state
ments heretofore have been permitted
to pass without dispute until their
baselessness was actually demon
strated by events in Mexico.
They call attention to reiterations BY
the Secretary of State Of anxiety re-
garding the safety Of John r. Silliman
Vice-Consul at Saltillo. Events have
proved that Mr. Silliman has at no time
been in the slightest danger. and that
his anxiety was wholly unfounded. Yea
the newspapers have been fed with re-
ports Of Secretary Bryan's grave anxi-
ETY. regarding the fate OF the consul
for weeks, and. Of course, the impress
sion has been made in many minds
that he has been subjected TO outrage
ous treatment by the Huertistas. He
has been reported in jail. besieged by
mobs, and constantly in grave peril OF
his life. And now he turns UP smiling
admits that at no time has he been in
danger and that all these reports have
been entirely without foundation.
Saltillo's Fall Denied.
So. too. of the report that saltillo
has fallen. that the Federals are in full
flight and that San Luis Potosi is
about to surrender to the conquering
legions Of Villa. The Mexican dele
gates assert that all these reports are
wholly untrue and must be attributed