The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1914-05-21
DEATH OF SOLDIER
SUBJECT OF NOTE
BRYAN SENDS SHARP NOTE TO
HUERTA DEMANDING A FULL
EXPLANATION
PRIVATE PARKS EXECUTED
Rebels Continue on Their Victorious
March Into Huerta's important
Strongholds.

Washington.-The United States de-
manded of the Huerta government
news of the fate of Private Parks, the
American infantryman who strayed in
to Mexican lines near Vera Cruz, de-
claring that unless information about
him was given Immediately the Amer
lean government would consider that
IAN unfriendly and hostile act' had
been committed in violation of the I'M
derstanding for cessation of hostili-
ties pending mediation.
President Wilson and Secretary Bry-
an, it was learned, drafted strong
communication, after receiving word
from the Brazilian minister in Mexico
City that Parks had been "eXecuted.
No mention was made in the minister's
report of whether he was shot as a
spy after a court-martial or whether
his body was burned, as has been re-
ported persistently to General Fun
StOn.
The American government cabled
the Brazilian minister to inform the
Huerta government of the strong feel
ing of the United States in the matter
directing him to make vigorous repre-
sensations concerning the incident.
The note asked the minister to protest
to the Huerta government that il
Parks were alive the failure to ex-
plain his whereabouts was in itself an
unfriendly attitude, and that it the
soldier had been executed, as has been
reported, such execution of man who
came into the Mexican lines in full
uniform was contrary to military pro-
cedure of civilized nations and was an
act Of hostility.
No mention was made in the Ameri-
can note of the course the United
States intends to pursue in the matter,
but an official close to the president
said it was one of the things which
would be held up against the Huerta
government when the final reckoning
came over offenses committed against
the United Statees
Mediation Postponed.
Postponement of the Niagara Falls
Mexican mediation conference from
Monday to Wednesday, at the request
of the Huerta delegates, changed the
plans of the South American media
tors and the American commissioners
for departure, and at the same time
produced much speculation as to pos
sible significance in the delay. Later
the Spanish ambassador here, who is
caring for the interests of Mexico in
the United States, authorized a state
ment that the delay merely meant
that the Huerta delegates wanted a
brief respite from their long journey
and had no political Importance.
Lobos Incident Cleared Up.
The three medlatOrS, through the
state department, announced that the
Lobos island incident had been cleared
up. They informed General Huerta
that the Mexicans were free to return
to the Lobos island lighthouse. The
been arrested for sniping turned out
to be Mexicans, it was reported, and
like others arrested at Vera Cruz
were discharged. They had claimed
they we're South Americans to escape
punishment. On the whole, Presiden
Wilson and his cabinet took more
hopeful view of the Mexican situation
than they had for weeks. They are
confident mediation will accomplish
something toward the pacific settle
ment of the problem. The Constitu
tionalists' capture of Tampico brough
out the fact that there is no prohibi
, ton against the shipment of arms int
! that port from the United States o
any other country.