The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-03-12

1 The Bryan letter, it was said, did not take up specific cases, but dealt gen. | erally with actual dealings between Carranza and Washington and any European or Asiatic country.
 Consul Simpich arrived today just as General Carranza was ready to begin his march into Chihuahua If the Washington communication had ar rived day later it would have missed the constitutionalist chief who wfl be out of touch virtually with the outside world on his two weeks ride.
 Mexican officials considered the in cident fortunate in that it gave op- portunity they said, to straighten out at once what was deemed a misinter- pretation by Washington of General Carranza's stand in the Benton case, and to do this in a fashion which would be acceptable to the constitutionalist party and the Mexican public in gen eral.
 Both Notes Friendly
 In an interview tonight after hand ing the answer to Consul Simpich of Nogales, the constitutionalist com mander declared both notes had been friendly. However, speculation was caused by the fact that the Mexican communications had not been made public. The note to Secretary Bryan sent while General Carranza was at Noga1es, in which he declined to give Washington information, had been given to the press. The change of att titude was not explained except by General Carranza declaring his deal ings today with Consul Simpich had bee purely personal and confidential
 The insurgent leader asserted he was willing to assist in the protection of any foreigner in Mexico. He did not mention his previous refusal of in | a htIf Snid lA I,a t,.fI1 ing to receive and act on complaints which came either directly from the
 individual or from the injured per son through the representation of the consul agent of any nation represent ed in the district controlled by the con- stitutionalists.
 Asked regarding his stand toward the Washington government, Carranza reminded the questioner that the Unit ed States government had not rec ognized constitutionalist government any more than have those nations rec ognized the Huerta central govern ment at Mexico City, against which Carranza's party Is warning.
 Much Encouraged
 The note from Washington today and Carranza's answer tonight, it was said, were considered as affording much encouragement to what had been tSi ihth HtTe luS inoSl CiltlCdl Sllud tion during the present revolution. As- surances of the friendly tone of the Mexican note were taken as indicating the good will of the constitutionalist st party which. however. had been placed in a different position by the death of a British subject. While the con tents of Carranza's answer were kept secret, the impression was received by some persons that 1t had afforded a loophole through which to escape from what they considered a delicate posi- tion, due to a misunderstanding of the implied meaning of the first communi- cation to the state department. In all of the exchanges the Monroe doctrine in it's various interpretations had not been mentioned. But the po- stion of the United States as a pro- ropean invasion and its relation to- ward foreign countries in event of menace to their citizens was foremost in the unofficial discussion of the sit uation.
 General Carranza's position has been difficult, it was pointed out. because of what constitutionalists considered improper activity of English capital toward the Huerta government On the other hand. constitutionalists said there had been a distinct misunderstanding at least on part of the present Wash ington officials of Carranza's stand in declining to furnish more information regarding the death of the Briton.