Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1914-05-19
THE OFFICIALS
DEMAND news
OF AMERICAN
Huerta Asked to Give Details Con-
corning Private Parks
LIKELY TO CAUSE TROUBLE
President Says Failure to Comply
Will Be Regarded As
Hostile.
LIKELY TO CAUSE TROUBLE

of the Huerta government details of
the fate of Private Parks, the Amer
lean infantryman, who strayed into
Mexican lines near Vera Cruz, de-
claring that unless information
about him was given Immediately,
the American government would con-
slider that IAN unfriendly and hos
tile act'' had been committed in vi
olation of the understanding for a
cessation of hostilities pending me-
diation.
President Wilson and Secretary
Bryan, it was learned last night,
drafted strong communication, af-
ter receiving word from the Brazil
ian minister in Mexico City that
Parks had been executed.
No mention was made in the min
listers report of whether he was
shot as spy after court martial
or whether his body was burned as
has persistently been reported to
General Funston.
The American government cabled
the Brazilian minister to inform the
Huerta government of the strong
feeling of the United States, direct
ing him to make vigorous represen-
tations concerning the incident.
PROTEST TO HUERTA.
The note asked the minister to
protest to the Huerta government
that if Parks were alive, the failure
to explain his whereabouts was in
itself an unfriendly attitude and
that if the soldier has been execut-
ed, as has been reported, such execu-
ton of man who came into the
Mexican lines in full uniform was
contrary to military procedure of
civilized nations and an act Of hos
tility.
No mention was made in the
United States intends to pursue in
the question, but an official close to
the president said last night it was
one of the things which would be
held up against the Huerta govern
ment when the final reckoning came
over offenses committed against the
United States.
The three South American media
tors had received no communication
from the United States about the
Parks incident, and persons in the
confidence of the president said the
affair probably would not interfere
with the beginning of the mediation
proceedings, although it was recall
ed that the United States accepted
the tender of good offices with the
reservation that no hostile acts to-
ward Americans should occur while
the negotiations We're in progress.
NEWS FROM SILLIMAN.
The receipt of word by the British
embassy from Sir Lionel Garden,
British minister in Mexico City, that
J. R. Silliman, missing American
vice consul, was on his way by rail
from Saltillo to Mexico City brought
the first news about Silliman in sew
eral days, considerably relieving the
anxiety felt by officials. The Brit
ish vice consul at Saltillo telegraph
ed the information to Sir Lionel Car
den.
The Parks and Silliman incidents
have been looked upon in many
quarters as likely to embarrass the
mediation negotiations, but those
close to the administration said both
incidents probably would be cleared
up by next week.
Postponement of the Niagara
Falls Mexican mediation conference
from next Monday to the following
Wednesday at the request of the
Huerta delegates changed the plans
of the South American mediators and
the American commissioners for de-
parture today and tomorrow and
produced much speculation as to pos
sible significance in the delay.
DELAY BRIEF DESPITE.
The Spanish ambassador here,
who is caring for the interests of
Mexico in the United States, author
lied the statement that the two day
delay meant merely that the Huerta
delegates wanted brief respite
from their long journey and had no
political Importance. The Spanish