The Washington herald., 1914-04-15
HUERTA REFUSED
FORMAL APOLOGY
Was Willing, However, to Sa-
lutte the Dolphin with
Five Guns.
LIND INFLUENCED CABINET
LIND INFLUENCED CABINET
Views Said to Have Played lmpor.
tant Part in Determination to
Take Firm Stand.

The situation which resulted in the Or
dering of the feet to Tampico was ini-
tiated last Thursday, when a paymaster
and nine marines Of the cruiser Dolphin
landed at Tampico from a whaleboat
They went in quest OF gasoline, which
they had found themselves to be in need
OF after putting out from the Dolphin.
Admiral Mayo had reported to the Navy
Department that the marines were with
out side arms. Upon landing they were
ordered arrested and were hailed before
an official for an inquiry as to the pur-
pose of their presence in Tampico. After
being paraded through the streets of
Tampico under arrest they were per-
mitted to return to the Dolphin In their
whaleboat
Admiral Mayo, commanding the ships
at Tampico, Immediately made vigorous
representations to Gen. Zaragoza, de-
manding reparation through a salute to
the national colors before 6 o'clock on
Friday. Admiral Mayo's report was-com-
municated to the Navy Department and
by Secretary Daniels to President VIII
son, who then was at White Sulphur
Springs, W. Va. Before the expiration
of the time set by Admiral Mayo the
Huerta government had come forward
with disclaimers of responsibilities for
the insult and had announced that the
would be punished properly.
Mayo Was Sustained.
The President decided that the de-
mand of the admiral would be sus-
tanned by this government and repre-
sentations to this effect were made by
Charge O'Shaughnessy at Mexico City.
definite ultimatum was withheld,
however, through the requests Of
Huerta for an opportunity for discus
sion of the situation
The administration entertained the
view that a time Limitation was not
essential to atonement for the insult
Until yesterday President Wilson and
his advisers had believed. from the
character of Heurta's representations,
that the apology demanded would be
obtained amicably. 1t was with this
belief in mind that the President yes
.erday received from Charge OShaugh
messy a report of his last interview
with President Huerta.
Mr.. O'Shaughnessy reported that
Huerta was unwilling to assent to the
FULL demand of the American govern
ment. he taking the position that so
formal an apology was not commen-
surate with the wrong that had been
committed. The Mexican President was
willing to have the Tampico guns sa-
lutte the cruiser EoIphin with fve guns.
the insult had been committed against
an-offcer and men of the Dolphin and
should not be regarded as applying to
he American navy.
Lind Is Called in.
John Lind was called to the White
House for a discussion of this reply at
~ o'clock. Following this conference the
President met the Cabinet and laid the
report before them. The Cabinet meet
ing yesterday probably was the most i'm
rortant that this body has held. The
issue which the President called upon the
members to help him to decide was
whether the United States was to stand
behind its demand for a sulute to the
Stars and Stripes or, for the sake of ex-
pediency and the future of its policy of
watchfuI waiting accept the inadequate
rcparation promised by Mexico.
strong difference of opinion developed.
Although the majority of the Cabinet was
sobered by the realization of the possi-
hilities this country faced they adhered
to the belief that the national honor
should be sustained at any cost. These
had little patience with the contention
which 1t is understood, was made by at
least one Cabinet official that the issue
at stake would not justify the admins
tration for imperilling human lives and
its humanitarian policy in Mexico. Sup
nOrtcTS OF Ine latter contention UrgeO
that Admiral Mayo's demand be with
drawn and that the President announce
his satisfaction with the regret which
has been publicly expressed by Huerta.
Envoy Gives Views.
played an important part in determining
the administrations attitude. The Presi-
dents special envoy is believed to have
urged drastic action by the United States.
He Is believed to have convinced the
President that the time has come for the
abandonment Of that policy of which the
special envoy was sent to Mexico City
as the chief expounder. Mr.. Lind is said
to have expressed to the President his
conviction that Huerta would remain in
power at Mexico City until he was driven
out by the constitutionalist forces and
to have held out no hopes for the sue
cess OF the administrators policy in
procuring the withdrawal of Huerta and
a popular election.
The Cabinet finally supported the Presi-
dents view that the Mayo demand ought
TO be backed up to the fullest They ap-
proved the decision to order the Atlantic
feet to Tampico with the view of COM
pelling the salute, should this be neces-
sary. They approved also the commuri-
cation to Charge O'Shaughnessy of an ul-
tmatum setting forth the purposes for
which the feet had been ordered to Vera
Cruz
Secretary Daniels issued orders for the
movement of the ships Immediately after
adjournment White House officials COM
municated to the Senate Committee on
Foreign Affairs the action that had been
taken. It is understood the committee
will be called into conference by the Pres
ldent soon and that a full discussion Of
the governments plans will be had.