Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1914-05-09
Provisional Presidents Reply to
Mediators' Proposal Understood
to Be Acceptance, But Terms
We're Never Given Out
HUERTA OBJECTS TO
LANDING OF TROOPS
Leading Authorities Say 1t Is an
Open Question as to What Can
Be Done When Formal Armistice
Is Not Declared

Washington. D. c.. May S.-Secre-
tary Bryan admitted early to-day that
this government had received note
from the South American mediators
seeking to solve the Mexican crisis in
which complaint is made by the
1Iuerta government that American op-
erations at Vera Cruz are in violation
of the armistice.
Asked as to the details of the me-
dating ENJOYS note. Mr.. Bryan said:
1T simply sets forth what Huerta
says A reply to that note will be
made.
Officials point out that neither the
United States nor General Huerta has
yet entered into any formal armistice
What occurred was this: The me-
|diators suggested that hostlities should
he suspended during the period of ne
|gctiations. To this Secretary Bryan
replied that it was assumed there
would be suspension of hostilites,
except to repel attack. General Huer-
ta's answer was understood to be ac-
|ceptance, but the exact terms have not
been given out. Mr.. Bryan has sew
eral times pointed out that this did not
constitute formal armistice, but only
an assumption that hostilities would
he suspended except to resist aggres-
|sion.
United States and Mexico Signed
Article VII of The Hague conven-
Jon. Of which the United States and
hteXico are signators, prescribes spe-
f}eally of troops movement pending
|mediation, as follows:
Article VII. The acceptance of
mediation cannot, unless there be an
agreement to the contrary, have the
|efect of interrupting. delaying or him
|dering mobilization or other measures.
Tor preparation for war.
If mediation occurs after the COM
|meacement of hostilities, it causes no
interruption to the military operations
in progress unless there be an agree
ment to the contrary"
To what extent the present suspen-
|slon at Vera Cruz operates under these
rules appears, therefore. to depend
largely on the construction of the in
formal understanding that it was as
|sumed hostilities would be suspended
except to repel attack.
Should BE Definite
Leading authorities on international
law hold that an armistice, truce or
suspension of hostilities should be def
mite and exact, and not implied One
|of the leading authorities, Halleck.
|says:
Such a general suspension of hos
|ullties can only be made by the SOW
|ereiSnty of the state, either directly
Ioi ny authority specially delegated.
|Such authority is never implied, and
the enemy is bound to see that the
agent is specially authorized to bind
his principal"
When an armistce is formally
agreed to. the authorities hold that
during its pendancy neither party
|may engage in any military work. on
|eration or movement. at least upon
|the immediate theater of war" This
however, is limited to the 'theater of
war and 1t is added:
Each party may in its own iIlris-
|diction do with it's armed forces what
|nver it could do in time of peace. For
|titcations can be built or put in order
vessels fitted out, troops raised and
ftrained. and warlike stores manufac
ltured and collected. Troops can he
|moved about from one part of a coun
TRY TO another with the exception of
fthe actual area of hostilities"
This latter applies only when q for
Imal armistice is in operation, and it is
|an open question as to what the con-
Idition is when there is no formal
Iarmistice but only an assumption thai
|hostilities will be suspended except to
|repel attack.