Evening star., 1914-04-26
NO ENTHUSIASM
OVER MEDIATION
Military and Congressional
Circles Strongly Antago-
nistic to Plan.
BELIEVED FRUITLESS, AS
FIGHTING IS INEVITABLE"
This View Regarded as Likely to Be
Expressed Strongly in Congress
This Week.
BY N. o. MESSENGER.

First-blush impressions in official
Washington last night were not opti-
mistic over the outcome Of the over
lures of Argentina, Brazil and Chile
for intermediation between the United
States and Mexico.
In military and congressional circles
the feeling was strongly antagonistic.
1t is no exaegeration to say that Con-
gress has absorbed the spirit existing
in the military arm Of the government
and is ready to go down the line"
now that the movement has begun.
This fact was shown yesterday when
several prominent democrats in Con-
gress, after comforting, resolved to in
form the President that Congress must
be taken into more intimate conference
termination Of policy, and that the cabi-
net Is not alone the arbiter of war and
peace. -
The lack of enthusiasm over the pros
efforts of the Latin American. neighbors
was based upon the following consider
ations:
First, "Huerta Must Co.,
First that the primary element in
settlement must be that "Huerta
must CO." This has been the insistence
of the administration from the out
set and has brought about the present
crisis. Thoughtful men in congressional
and military circles were unable to
perceive how the administration could
abate this demand without stuItifica-
tfon and were equally at a loss to ap-
preciate how Huerta could now ac-
quiesce In an ultimatum successfully
resisted for more than year They
do not believe that Huerta will con-
sent to go.
Second, Secretary Bryan's note most
plainly stated that final settlement Of
the difficulties must include acqui-
escence of all elements in Mexico,
meaning. Of course, the Carranza,
Huerta and Zapatista factions"
The task of bringing Carranza. Villa.
Zapata and Huerta into a harmony Of
action which would make life in Mexico
one grand. sweet song was beyond the
comprehension of the officials outside of
the region OF Secretary Bryans charmed
circle.
What obseSsion possesses those who
bask in this enchanted realm dominated
by the Secretary of State was beyond the
comprehension OF many who discussed the
situation last night. Most certainly the
military men were not nibbling the lotos
leaves. Loud and deep were the pro-
testations against halting. now that the
hand has been laid to the plough.
Specific Policy Is Sought.
Secretary Of War Garrison has been
trying for two days to get from the
administration some definite idea of a
specific policy to be followed He and
his military advisers know that the
country will hold the War Department
responsible If through unpreparedness
a catastrophe occurs and there is a
massacre of American citizens on the
border or Of American soldiers across
the border.
1t Is stated upon authority Tat the
War Department is convinced that Wig
orous measures mus, be taken Eest
promptly to protect the long border
line from Invasion. While Secretary
Bryan is said to hug to his bosom the
professions of Villa that he loves US
like a brother, the War Department
is said to think quite the contrary.
The big men in the War Department
would not trust Villa as far as they
could throw a bear by the tall. and that s
all there is to 1t.
They look upon last nights peace pro-
posals as a Trojan horse. They believe
that in the end the proposals must of
necessity come to naught and in the
meantime that Villa will have brought
his forces up to the border and intrenched
them, armed with guns of most modern
make supplied by manufacturers of the
United States and shipped across the
| border under the remission of the EN-
barge.
Believe Fight Inevitable.
They believe that Huerta will have
rallied the sentiment of central Mexico
and equipped his army, and that Zapata
| will have moved up from southern Mexi-
| CO, ready to join the fray.
| In other words. the impression wa.
| strong last night among military mer
and shared by some congressman that 9
| fight Is inevitable In the long run, an6
| that the fruitless weeks spent in pour
! parlers over peace-that is to say, they
| think tl.ey will be fruitless-will onl.
serve to strengthen the common enemy
| This view Is likely to be expressed
4 y,,C