Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1914-06-04
DELEGATES AGREE
ON MEXICAN PLAN
iiuerta Must Surrender Power to
Provisional Government
of Five.
AMERICAN TROOPS TO LEAVE
All Factions viii Share in Control of
Country Until New President Is
Chosen by Popular, Fair
Election.


American and Mexican delegates to
the mediation conference have
reached complete agreement on a
plan for the pacifcation of Mexico.
Details have not been made public,
but the main points of the scheme
are as follows:
The transfer of the executive power
at Mexico City from the hands Of Gen.
Victoriano Huerta to a provisional
president and four cabinet ministers.
This body has often been referred to
as a commission, or junta.
These five men will share equally
the responsibility of putting into oper-
alton a program adopted at the con-
ference for the conduct as soon as
practicable of new elections for presi-
dent, vice-president and members of
congress. The five men would be neu-
trail persons as far as political afilia-
tons are concerned, but would be rep
resentative men, as nearly acceptable
as possible to all factions in Mexico,
including the constitutionalists, and
approved by the American govern
ment.
Prompt recognition of the provi-
sional government would be given by
the United States.
Withdrawal Of American troops is
expected by the Mexican delegates to
follow as a matter of course as soon
as the new government is installed.
To Back Present CONGRESS,
While there may be no formal dec
laration on the subject, the Mexican
delegates expect a tacit understanding
to be reached that the United States
will regard as legal the financial trans
actions Of the present Mexican con-
gress.
In the protocol there will be pro-
claimed principles on which a study
of the agrarian and educational prob
lens Of Mexico would be based, but
there will be made no mention of in
dividuals to compose the government
The mediators and delegates intend
to use every effort to maintain the Sc
crecy of the names of individuals until
all elements in the proposed new gov
eminent have assented to the plan
or the actual change in government is
accomplished
Arrange for Fair Elections.
1t is understood there win be no
reference in the protocol to the de-
tails Of future elections, either as to
forestalling any individuals from be-
coming candidates or prescribing the
electoral machinery.
The protocol will declare simply for
a general election, fair to all factions,
and looking to the restoration of per-
manent government. The new presi-
dent would serve until 1916, filling the
unexpired term Of the late President
Madero.
The Mexican delegates have looked
with disfavor on the proposal that
commission government should be es-
tablished Professionally pending an
election. They have contended that
it would be unconstitutional The me-
diators, who are understood to have
conceived the idea originally, have
found way to bridge that difficulty
by preserving the forms of the Mexi-
can constitution. The provisional pres
ident and four ministers, to all intents
and purposes, will act as a unit in re-
solving the various questions incident
to re-establishing permanent govern
ment.
The executive power, according to
the Mexican constitution, is vested in
the president, who can bestow it upon
cabinet officials. The four men who
would act with the new provisional
president doubtless would take charge
of the departments of foreign rela-
tons, finance, war and interior. Sub
secretaries would continue In charge
of the other departments.
Huerta has approved the main
points in the plan. The Mexicans
came with plenary powers, but have
been referring vital issues to him, and
he has been giving his approval of
their work. Interests of the constitu-
tionalists are being kept in mind by
the mediators. Names agreed upon
for the new provisional government
are expected to be such as the consti-
tutionalists might indorse.
The mediators do not expect the
question of constitutionalist repre-
sentation here to be reopened The
conferences have progressed too far
for that The belief is that the Amer
lean government is sounding out the
constitutionalists on details of the
plans.