New Britain herald., 1914-05-08
Officials Are Notified.

Officials Are Notified.
 Washington, May S.-secretary Bryan admitted early today that this government had received a note from the South American mediators seek ing to solve the Mexican crisis, in which complaint is made by the Huerta government that American operations at Vera Cruz are in viola tion of the armistice. -,
 Asked as to the details of the med iating envoys' note, MT. Bryan said: "It simply sets forth what Huerta says. A reply to the note will be made.''
 Mediators Are Silent.
 None of the mediators would dis cuss the news emanating from Mex leo City regarding the Huerta pro- test, forwarded through Acting Min ister of Foreign Relations Esteva Ruiz, and later confirmed here by Secretary Bryan. That the envoys or one of them would go to the state department to negotiate further re- garding the protest against American military operations was said to be probable by those in close touch with the mediation developments.
 When the United States would re- ply to the envoys' note was not made known. President Wilson is said to have been informed last night of the Huerta governments communication and it is expected that the subject would be considered at the cabinet meeting today.
 No Formal Armisticc. Officials point out that neither the United States nor General Huerta has yet entered into any formal armistice. What occurred was this: The med iators suggested that hostilities should be suspended during the period of ne- gotiations. To this Secretary Bryan replied that it was assumed there would be suspension of hostilities except to repel attack. General Huerta's answer was understood to be an acceptance, but the exact terms have not been given out Mr. Bryan has several times pointed out that this did not constitute a formal armistice, but only an assumption that hostili- ties would be suspended except to re- | sist aggression.
 Hague Convention Text. i Article VII of The Hague conven- 1 ton, of which the United States and 1 Mexico are signatories, provides spe- officially on troop movement pending mediation as follows:
 | Article VII. The acceptance of l mediation, cannot, unless there be an l agreement to the contrary, have the l affect of interrupting, delaying, or hindering mobilization of other mea- sures, or preparations for war. "If mediation occurs after the com mencement of hostilities it causes no 1 interruption to the military operations in progress, unless there be an agree l ment to the contrary"
 To what extent the present sus- pension at Vera Cruz operates under these rules appears, therefore, to de- l pend largely on the construction of 1 the informal understanding that it | was assumed hostilities would be sus- l pended except to repel attack.
 Authority Never Implied. Leading authorities on international l law hold that an armistice truce or l suspension of police should be definite and exact, and not implied. One of 1 the leading authorities, Halleck, says:
 Such general suspension of hostil- ities can only be made by the sov- l ereignty of the state, neither directly or by authority specially delegated. Such authority is never implied, and l the enemy is bound to see that the 1 agent is specially authorized to bind his principal"
 When an armistice is formally | agreed to the authorities hold that during it's pendency neither party 1 may engage in any military work 1 operation, or movement, at least upon the immediate theater of war; This however, is limited to the ''theater ot war;" and it is added: Each party may, in it's own jurisdiction, do with it's armed forces whatever it could dc in time of peace. Qualifications car be built or put in order, vessels fitted out, troops raised and trained, and warlike stores manufactured and col.
 lected Troops can be moved about
 from one part of a country to an. other, with the exception If the ac- tual area of hostilities.'
 Is Open Question.
 This latter applies only when q formal armistice is in operation, anG it is an open question as to what the condition is when there is TO forma
 armistice but only an assumption that
 hostilities will be suspended except tt 1 repel attack.