The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1914-05-22
Rebels Send Delegate
to Peace Conference
CONTINUED from First Page)

the principals to the mediation con-
ference here that the savage advance
of tho Constitutionalist army under
General Villa inevitably must have a
bearing upon the settlement of the
difficulties between the United States
and Huerta's party. When the South
America mediators withdrew the in
vitation they had extended to General
Carranza to send delegates to the Nj
agara Falls conference because of the
refusal of the Constitutionalists leader
to agree to an armiStiCe, to continue
during the sessions, 1t was stated the
conference would proceed to the con-
sideration of the Tampico incident. Of
fetal reports yesterday from Constitu-
tionalist sources, reciting the victories
of Villa and his army in the Saltillo
campaign, have convinced the Mexican
representatives here that Huerta's foes
cannot be stopped. Moreover the ex-
ecution of a federal general and his
entire staff by Villa has impressed
upon them the fact that leaders of
the federal army cannot hope for mercy
if they fall into the hands of the Con-
stitutionalists. That the weakening
situation of the federal forces may
force Huertas hand is recognized here.
THEIR STRONGEST CARD.
The Mexican delegates came here be-
1ieving that any announcements of
Huerta's attitude toward proposals
looking to settlement of the Mexican
trouble would be left to them to an
nounce and their strongest card was
believed to be authority given by
Huerta to agree to his effacement con-
ditional upon the selection of a tenn
porary government acceptable to the
interested by him. All this has been
changed by Villas successes. The fed
eral forces Tuesday exhibited no love
OF fight and the leaders are not ex
pected to offer the stubborn resistance
that marked SO many of the engage
ments with the army steadily advanc-
ing upon the Mexican capital. AS a
result HueTtas supporters fear that
he may not dare await the outcome
Of the mediation. It was because of
this feeling that all principals of the
conference yesterday accepted unhesi-
tatingly a dispatch from Mexico City
saying that Huerta has himself con-
f1rned reports that he was willing to
retire if his resignation was neces-
Sary TO peace. Later 1t was learned
that there had been an error in trans
mission and Huerta had not authorized
such g statement. but this did not ma
terially change the situation. 1t was
evident that some such announcement
was not expected.
Much interest is displayed here in an
explanation circulated today respect
ing the erroneous dispatch Of yester-
day saying Huerta would retire. AS
received the despatch read:
''Huerta gave out statement saying
he authorized peace delegates to offer
resignation y necessary to arrange
peace"
Correspondents OF the Associated
Press in Mexico City were Immediately
cabled to send Huerta's verbatim
statement, which order disclosed after
several hours that the word denying"
had been received saying" and that
the sense of the despatch had been
reversed by this error. As filed TIE
despatch was a denial by Huerta that
he had authorized his delegates to
agree to his retirement from the preSi-
dency. An investigation is proceeding
to fix responsibility for the error.
INFORMAL CONFERENCE.
The three South American mediators
in an informal conference today with
the representatives Of General Huerta
sought To learn in a general way the
viewpoint of Mexican representatives
on various solution Of the Mexican
problem.
The mediators pursued the same
course with the Mexican delegates to-
day as they did with the American
peace commissioners last night. No
formal expression of views was re-
uuired but the mediators suggested
hypothetical steps looking - a settle
ment of the Mexican inbroglio and
learned the trend of thought of the
delegates. No proposals Of a definite
character had been. made 10 the Amer
Jeans and il was understood that none
were contemplated today with the
MeNicans. In fact, one Of the princi-
pals to the conference expressed the
opinion that it might be several days
before a definite an dcomprehensive
plan would he submitted for formal
considera ton to either side.
Minister Naon of Argentine. de-
pSribed the informal sessions with each