The Washington herald., 1914-04-19

messy, had stated that II was not his in
| tention to carry out the demands OF Real
/ Admiral Mayo served upon Gen. lara
goza at Tampico. April 2. He said thai
! he had made a public expression OF his
regret at the Tampico occurrence. and be-
! lieved this ought to satisfy the United
States government. The phraseoIogy
which OShaughnessy is understood to
/ have employed is that Huerta "demurred
at the American demands.
The Mexican president had expressed
his willingness to order a national salute
fired at Tampico coincidentally with the
salute OF the same number OF guns to be
fired by the American warship.
Huerta J.. Firm.
This last was the something less than
would constitute an acknowledgement
referred to in the statement issued by the
| President.
/ The general tone of O'Shaughnessy'
| account of his interview with Huerta was
acceptance of the belief that the refusal
was intended as final.
Among those to whom O'Shaughnessy's
message was shown were Senator Shively
and Postmaster General Burleson. The
Postmaster General who is generally &C.
! credited with the leadership in the Cabi-
| net of the sentiment for a strong stand
| by the United States in Mexican affairs.
bristled with anger as he read Huerta S
| most recent defiance.
The Postmaster General made no secret
Of the fact that already he was i'm
| patient at the extent to which Huerta
had been permitted to hagGle. and that
he believed that the time was well upon
the United States when its power should
be used TO compel Huerta to assume an
attitude of respect and humiliation.
An interesting fact which came to light
in connection with This stage OF the days
proceedings is that Secretary OF State
Bryan disapproved of the Presidents s
plan to issue a statement upon the out
come OF the negotiations. and his con-
sequent resolve TO deliver an ultimatum.
Secretary Bryans irrepressible optimism.
it was said. had caused him to urge the
President to withhold the mornings de-
velopments from the country until Huerta
had been allowed one more opportunity
to change front The President was sup
ported by his other advisers. however.
in his plan to take the people into the
confidence Of the government.
President Uses Typewriter.
The President and Secretary Bryan
withdrew to Mr.. Wilson's private study
on the second floor of the White
House TO write the instructions which
were to be sent to O'Shaughnessy for
transmission to Huerta. The President
consulting at intervals with Mr.. Bryan.
wrote out his message on the typewriter.
which he keeps in his study, and upon
which he has framed most OF his mes
sages to Congress and other State papers
Of the highest Importance.
Persons who have seen the reply which
Mr.. Wilson framed declare it is an ex-
ceedingly vigorous document. 1t is said
to TEEN with impatience at Huerta's dal-
lying and to contain strong expressions
of the resolve Of the United States to
obtain reparation for the insults to the
flag. The President informs Huerta in
substance that unless he assures the
American charge d'affairs before o clock
this afternoon Of his intention to order
the national salute fired at TampicO in
accordance with the letter of the original
demand of admiral Mayo, it will be the
duty of the President OF the United
States to ask the Congress of this ma
ton for authority to utilize its military
forces to compel that measure OF re-
spect which has been lacking among
Mexican officials. 1t is understood that
the President set forth his intention TO
order a blockade Of the ports of Tam
pico and Vera Cruz, and to seize the
railroads running from these points sew
eral miles inland toward Mexico City.
1t was stated that these steps would be
carried out by the United States before
its demand for reparation is repeated.
Message Kept Secret.
An effort was made by friends of the
administration yesterday afternoon to
convince officials, and through them the
President. Of the wisdom of making pub
lie the Mexican reply and this govern
ment's ultimatum- These were foiled by
the conviction in the Presidents mind
that he ought to withhold these docu-
ments until he has communicated them to
Congress, as he will do on Monday morn
ing unless before that time he receives
word of Huerta's acceptance.
Secretary Bryan said that the Presi-
dents ultimatum would permit Huerta
approximately twenty-four hours of de-
liberation. He said that the translation
Of the message into cipher, its transmits
sion to Mexico City, and its deciphering
there and communication to Gen. Huerta