The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-07-04
Washington Officials Opti- mistic Despite Adverse
 Conditions
CARRANZA'S SILENT
 POLICY UNBROKEN
Rumored Rebel Chief Wants to Know When United States Will Evac- uate Vera CruZ-Bryar De-
 clines to Comment

Washington, July 3.-With Mexican mediation in recess pending action by the constitutionaIists, officials of the Wash ington government tonight refused to con- cede that all chances for peace had fled t,tf
 Administration leaders held to this op- timistic view despite the fact that no definite word had come from General carranza. first chief of the constitution aiists. respecting the conference with his subordinate generals over the invitation from the mediators for his agents to participate In discussion with the Huerta representatives Tonight Charles A. Douglass, one of Carranza's counsellors, who has been chiefly interested in ef- forts to bring about the meeting between the Mexican antagonists. had a long conference with Secretary Bryan. Pre- vious to this he had conferred for hours with Rafael Zuburan and Luis Cabrera, Carranza's chief agents in Washington.
 Wants Information
 It was admitted that messages had been received from General Carranza at Saltillo. but 1t was learned these mes sages asked for further information about the proposed conference and also with relation to the attitude of the United States It was intimated that some as surances were wanted by the constitu- tionalists as to when the United states would retire from Vera Cruz in the event that the constitutionalists should agree to a provisional government pend election Mfr Rrvan would not discuss the situation, but the general indication in all sources was that nothing definite would be known concerning the constitutionalists decision for several days.
 That the Washington government still is exerting all possible influence upon the constitutionalists to yield to the pro- posed conference again was apparent, and John R. Silliman, vice consul at Saltillo. left tonight to return to his post there, to do everything in his power to induce General Carransa and his associate lead CTS to agree to a provisional govern ment MT. Sililnan had le -s talk with President Wilson before his departure.
 Mir Cabrera and MT. Zuberan still ex- pressed hope that favorable reply would be received from General Carranza, de- spite the fact that Fernando 1glesias, leader of the liberal party in Mexico and personal friend of General Carranza. au- thorized the statement that the consti- tutionalists never would treat with Huerta s delegates except upon terms of surrender. MT. Cabrera and MT. Zuberan would not comment upon this statement, but it was pointed out that the chief agent of General Carranza in Washing ton through whom all official statesments were transmitted was MT. Zubaran. MT. Zubaran insisted that there was no defi- nite word from his chief regarding the proposed conference
 EnvOys
 Justice Lamar and MT. Lehman. the American commissioners to the Niagara Falls conference, returned to Washting- ton today and talked briefly with Presi- dent Wilson and Secretary Bryan The President congratulated them upon their painstaling work. No formal conference was held, but the commissioners expect to see the President again, probably next Monday. They will remain here subject to call should the constitutionalists agree to meet the Huerta delegates The Amer ican commissioners did not confer with any of the constitutionalists, nor do they expect to until some definite plan o1 action Is agreed upon.
 At the constitutionalist headquarters fl was apparent that the immediate source of anxiety was not so much the pro. posed meeting with Huertas delegates but their own internal troubles. chiefly the differences between General Villa and General Carranza. The conference al Torreon with a view to settling these d1 ferences was reported still to be ir
 yogress and unofficial statements were Jade here tonight that all differences would be satisfactorily adjusted within g short time and that the military cam. paign against Mexico City would be re- newed shortly with increased vigor