Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-06-01
Villas Control of His Men Not
Absolute, and Must Be
Reckoned With.
MEDIATION MEANS NOTHING
TO TROOPS IN THE RANKS
Plan for a Provisional Government
at Mexico City Does Not Strike
a Responsive Chord.
BY CHARLES M. PEPPER.

SHAs11<<s 1utAlCp, may -S-2hCuldSAoh
looks very different to northern Mexico
from the appearance it seems to present
to Washington and Niagara Falls. Its
aspect on the border is also somewhat diff
ferent from its aspect at Durango and
Torreon and Saltillo.
fortnight's observation at various
points in the interior. although nowhere
in contact with military operations has
satisfied me that the ultimate decision
as to the constitutionalist program rests
not with the Carranza cabinet. or even
with Villa himself but with Villas army
Gen. Villa has become somewhat con-
servative. He can control the army to
some extent. He does not want trouble
with the United States. but the question
is yet to be determined whether he is
ready to acquiesce in a policy which
would divide authority at Mexico City
with the Huertistas. If he reaches that
decision then the question will arise how
far he can bring his army around to it.
Nobody who knows the situation would
today seek to answer that question
For the present the whole mediation
question is left by the army chiefs,
from Villa down, in the hands of the
Carranza provisional cabinet. Gen. Car
diiLd Ids Two OF lnTec men Oh Judgment
and common sense with him. He also
has some Eighty individuals who are in
cllned to vaporiZe.
Durango, where the Carranza govern
ment Is now holding forth, Is rather reS
mote from the outside world. The tele-
graph lines to Juarez, and between Juarez
and Washington and niagara Falls. how
ever. are open. The Mexican lines have
been monopolized for the last two or
three days by Gen. Carranza. SO that it
may be assumed that his agents in Wash
ington and Niagara Falls are in full
possession of the views of the constitu-
tionalist government, while Gen. Carranza
and ms cabinet have complete informa-
ton regarding the sentiment at Washing
ton and Niagara Falls.
Fails to Strike Responsive Chord.
The reports received today from Niagara
that the mediators have reached plan
fpE junta or provisional government
at Mexico City do not strike responsive
chord. 1t is presumed, of course, that
this junta would be a compromise and
that the Huertistas would have equal
representation in it with the constitu-
tionalists. if they did not actually domi-
nate it. That the Niagara Falls medi-
ators expect to settle the issue by ar
ranging for a provisional government that
excludes the constitutionalists no one
here seriously believes. although no one
is clair how their participation is to be
arranged.
It is understood today that Gen. Car
rama has instructed his agents to make
some sort of further representation to
the mediators. but In no way to abandon
his original position. which was that the
constitutionalist government would make
proper reparation to the United States
for the insults that the Huertistas had
inflicted. and would observe international
mediation in the internal affairs of Mex
leo. By the internal affairs of Mexico
was meant the control of the government.
The constitutionalists unquestionaby
are in a stronger position than when Car
rama first refused the invitation to par
ticipate in the mediation proceedings
They have complete military mastery
of northern Mexico. Their military ad-
ministration. as / have noted in various
sections. is fairly good. On paper. some
thing also has been done toward provid-
ing civil government. but this is so large
ly on paper that it does not call for
serious consideration at present. The
main fact is that they are administering
the different states of northern Mexico.
and the Carranza provisional cabinet in
these states is exercising somewhat
loosely. it is true-the functions of a reg
ular government.
The attitude of the United tSates or
rather of the Washington administration,
is now becoming more important than
ever. Heretofore whatever the policy
may have meant to accomplish, the re-
suits have been to make the United
States an active ally of Villa and Car
rama. 1t was an appalling responsible
ity to take in the beginning. and it's
Justification must rest on the good to be
obtained. If the expected good does not
follow, the best will have to be made
of bad situation
Will Try to Meet U. S. Wishes.
The constitutionalists. and especially
Gen. Villa. have acknowledged some
sense of obligation to Washington. Within
certain limits they may try to meet the
wishes of the Washington administra-
ton. but up to very recently it has been
assumed that the wish of Washington
was to place the constitutionalists in a
position to drive Huerta out OF Mexico.
At the outset the mediation proceed
ings were not taken very seriously. 1t
was assumed that they would run along
while the constitutionalist
army was getting in shape to move on
Mexico City. The prospective elimina-
tion of Huerta through mediation has
changed the whole situation
It is not improbable that Washington
has received reassuring information Of an
official character as to the real attitude
of the constitutionalist leaders. including
villa and Carranza. and their readiness to
accent a compromise when the opportune
arrives. but the disquieting fea-
ture of the situation is the uncertainty as
to how far they can control their army.
When the Carranza note inviting Presi-
dent Wilson to withdraw the American
marines and soldiers from Vera Cruz was
nublished Villa was given credit for
avoiding a crisis by his prompt action in
lisayowine the note. Only those who
were on the border, and in northern Mex
leo at the time, know how dangerous the
conditions were for forty-eight hours.
Villas influence undoubtedly calmed the
crisis Villa himself has much respect
for the United States Army, and the
Twelve thousand troops stretched along |
The border the day he arrived at Juarez
was a moral argument that had great |
force with him. But the cold fact is that |
he Villa generals we're the most radical
n insisting that the Carranza note be |
written In the original draft Carranza !
demanded that the American troops be |
from Vera Cruz. He was In |
fuced to change this by some of his more
advisers, and to Invite" |
heir withdrawal instead but this modi- |
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