Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-10-21
Mexican National Convention
o. KS Arrangements Made
by Consul SiIIiman. RI
DOUBT GEN. VILLA HAS )
SURROUNDED CONFEREES
q. s. to Delay Leaving Seaport I'm
til Carranza Issues Proclama-
ton Giving Guarantees. !

Arrangements made by American
Consul John r. Silliman and Gen. Agui-
lar for Withdrawing United States
forces from Vera Cruz have been ap-
proved by the Mexican national conven-
ton at Aguascalientes.
The subject had been referred to the
convention by Gen. Carranza. who Is
expected to issue a proclamation CIV
ing guarantees to citizens of Vera Cruz
who have served the United States.
There was no ofiicial confirmation to-
day of reports that Gen. Villas troops
had surrounded the convention at
ARuascalientes Administration OFF,
cials expressed confidence that Gen.
villa had not taken such action
The Aguascalientes convention grant
ed all the requests made by the Ameri-
can government as prerequisite To
the withdrawal of troops. The united
States asked that customs duties col
lected during the American occupa-
ton as well as local taxes should not
be reimposed and that all Mexicans
who served the United states in civil
capacity and all clerfcs shoulo Do
given every protection.
Withdrawal Awaits Proclamation.
The American government, 1t Is now
understood, will not order the with
drawal of its troops or ships until
Gen. Carranza has formally issued a
proclamation giving the necessary
guarantees. officials expected that tho
proclamation would be issued today,
although there were some intlmations
that Carranza's authority to issue the
manifesto might be doubted by the
Villa faction and some pronouncement
from the convention be made in its
place.
The fact that Gen. Carranza had
Ii 10 hac for
the withdrawal of American forces was
regarded in some quarters as indicat-
| ing that he wanted possession of the
port for its stratetic Importance in
| opposing the Villa faction, should
| armed conflict eventuate.
Reported Villa Force Is Doubted.
Officials doubted reports that Gen.
| villa had moved a large force to the
vicinity of Aguascalientes to coerce the
delegates. Official reports. they said.
showed that, while suspicious of such
move existed when Villa first ar
rived, they were dispelled by his frank
statement to the convention of his in
tention to abide by its DEGREES.
| 1t was apparent that the news that
Gen. Carranza had sent a message to
| the convention asking by what author
ity it had proclaimed itself sovereign.
and declaring he would deliver the ex-
| ecutive power only to the man elected
by the people, had shaken the conf
dence in official circles that the contest
| for control of Mexico's political at
fairs between Carranza and villa was
about to be finally adjusted.
| See Move in Adjournment.
Some officials interpret the adjourn
ment of the convention to await the
arrival of the Zapata delegates as
merely a move on the part of some OF
the delegates to confer with Carranza
and determine what their course Of
action should be.
| DR. R. N. Little, 1918 East Capitol
street. who was sent to Vera Cruz as "a
member Of the Medical Corps of the
United States Navy when that city was
taken over by the United States. has
been relieved from duty in Mexico and
returned to Washington this week.
He sailed from Vera Cruz on the
MORO Castle. DR.. Little declined to
discuss conditions at Vera Cruz at the
| time of his departure. but said that
| the government officials who are in
charge of the city are satisfied that
everything possible is being done to
pravonf insanftation there,