The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-04-16

iniseiVfnBS on hts Mexican poncy. IL
continues:
WHY should villa. murder with i'm
punity and Gen. Huerta be chastised
with the whole strength Of the right
arm OF the United States for mere
breach OF international politeness? It
would be far easier to bring Villa to
better frame Of mind than to teach
Huerta manners. In the one case it
would have been enough to threaten
the rebels that the embargo on the ex-
portafton OF arms and ammunition
would be reimposed but what sort of
guarantee Is there that the capture of
Tampico, by the American fleet. will
either mend Huerta's manners or re-
lieve the hardships of foreign subjects
In Mexico or help any OF the inter-
ests President Wilson is SO anxious to
IF the United Stares is anxious for
an excuse for Intervention In Mexico,
an insult to her flag will serve very
wei. but no one knows better than
resident Wilson that armed interven-
ZION once begun cannot easily be con-
rinec to the limits that are set for it
at the beginning. 1t is is next to i'm
possible for one country to make itself
responsible for the good government Of
another and independent country
Americans Held Prisoners.
Warrington. April 1.-two Ameri-
cans. Boyless and Farias. laborers on
connection with the murder of two
federal soldiers are being held in Jail
at Ptedras Negras as witnesses. Their
release has been urged by the Ameri-
can consular representative but the
Mexican authorities while asserting
their belief In the innocence of the
prisoners. have ordered them held
pending an Investigation which prob
ably would be ended tomorrow.
Shively Explains 1t.
Washington. April 1s.-senator
Shively said today that it was the in
ternatiOnal custom to return such q
salute as IL demanded Of the Huerta
government.
IF Huerta Yields" said Senator
Shively. land should fire the salute
would call for q return salute from the
American fleet. Such return salute
could in no way be considered as q
recognition of the Huerta regime.
The Huerta government Is q defacto
government and it 10 the de facto gov
colorA. Z
1T is the international custom to
return such salutes."
Officials pointed out that last week
a proposal to salute the Dolphin with
the condition that the Dolphin return
the salute was rejected. 1t was ex-
planned that the proposal to salute the
Dolphin was merely in the form of an
inquiry from an under secretary of
proposed merely q ships salute and
not a salute to the American colOrs as
is demanded. {.
Washington. April 16.-As a pre-
cedent for returning q salute, the state
department turns to the case Of the
French consul at San Francisco. who
in 1854, was taken before local court
in violation Of treaty. France de-
handed q salute and an apology. A
compromise WaA reached by which q
French fleet was sent to San Francis
the American shore battery. The sa-
lutte was then returned by the French
flagship and the incident was closed.
Naval authorities generally favor
the return Of satntes rendered in such
fashion as part Of q national repara-
ton for an affront on the ordinary
theory that such salute IL an amende
honorable and must be met in that
spirit. by a proper acknowledgment.
No Precedent Against 1t.
Washington, April 16.-President Will
son describing his --dvices from Mexico
as very encouraging" told callers late
today that there was no known pre-
cedent against returning salute and
that in the natural course the United
States would return q salute when
fired.
The president held that no recogni-
ton would be involved in returning
Huerta's salute and that when it was
fired, the incident would be closed, apollo
gies having been made for previous
offenses.
Mr.. Wilson denied that at any time
during the negotiations. prior to today.
had Huerta offered to fire any salute,
though some subordinate officials did
attempt to sound out the American
government on the question Of salut-
ing the Dolphin. This was regarded
as a private salute to the Dolphin
and not to the American nag and was
declined.
The president made 1t clear that or
ders to the Atlantic and Pacific fleets
had not been changed.
No limit has been set for the salute,
according to the president, and the
final word on the Huerta offer had
not passed at 8 o'clock p. m.
r1vIrrS arvyTrT1