Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-05-02
PEACE MEplAroRs SURPRISED
" SUDDEN CHANGE IN MEX
icAN CABINET.
RoJAs SUCCEEDED ~
L,cEMT,ATE EsTEvA RUIZ
40 Minister Of War Succeeds Prssi-
dent of Mexico in Case Of Retirement
Or Death, Change May Be Significant
Ruiz Believed to Be More PLANT
g Husrta Than Rojas.

Washington, May 2.-Licentiate Es-
teua Ruiz has been appointed minister
Of foreign affairs in the Huerta cabinet
10 succeed Portillo Rojas. retired. The
Spanish ambassador here was officially
informed Of the appointment by cable
this morning. He is communicating
the new appointment to the mediators.
Ruiz. the new foreign minister, was
under secretary of Portillo y Rojas. He
has assisted in the mediation negotia-
tions and It is authoritatively stated
that the change will not affect the con-
dnued progress of the mediation plans.
Ruix has been referred to as the prob
able Huerta commissioner in case the
mediators proposed commission rep
resenting all parties to the controversy.
The Spanish ambassador, Mr.. Riano,
carried the cable announcement of
Ruiz's appointment to the Argentina
legation. The mediators were at once
called together and conference began
with the Spanish ambassador taking
part
Change Comes as . Surprise.
The appointment of Ruiz and retire.
ment Of Portillo y Rojas. the latter hav-
Ing been made known last night, came
~ complete surprise to officials here.
particularly to the mediators and the
Spanish ambassador. who had received
no hint Of an impending change. The
mediators had carried on all their nego-
tiations UP to this time with Portillo y
Rojas, and his retirement was regard
ed ~ unfavorable when the cable an
nouncement reached Mr. Riano that
Ruiz had taken the direction OF foreign
aGatEn
Nejas chisf Fisurs in Negotiations.
The mediat0Es had planned three ses-
! sions today. the first beginning at II:
o'clock. p - that lime they had not
heard of Ruiys appointment. but the
s0res-night Developments on the retire
ment Of RoJas was receiving close at
tention. as the mediators had carried on
all their negotiations with him up to
this time. The proposition Of good Of
fees was made to PortiIlo y Rojas and
accepted by him, 50 that his removal
put away one who had been a chief
figure in the progress thus far made.
The mediators stated. however. that the
retirement of Portillo y Rojas would in
no way affect the negotiations. 1t was
pointed out that the acceptance of the
Huerta government both Of good offices
and Of the armistice was in complete
force. so that the retirement of the
minister was construed by the medi-
ators as being merely the change of one
man and not Of great significance on the
main issues Of mediation.
Opinion ls Divided.
Outside the mediation conference the
bearing Of the Ruiz appointment caused
widespread speculation. The fact that
he had been mentioned as a probable
Huerta commissioner in case the medi-
ators proposed a commission to settle
the entire trouble. led to the belief that
Ruiz would pursue the same friendly
policy shown in the negotiations up to
this time.
But in some quarters II was felt that
Huerta himself was directing affairs
with a strong hand and that Ruiz was
more amenable to Huerta's direction
than Portillo Rajas had been
In Line for Presidency.
Senor Ruiz has been In the Mexican
government service In various capaci-
ties for many years and has never af-
hliated himself with any particular fac
ton. His position has been analogous
to that Of an assistant secretary in our
state department.