The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1914-04-15
WILL
SALUTE ANER[CAN
Continued From Page One.


demanded reparation in the form Of 8
salute Of tW~enty-one guns. The Amer
lean flag, while not taken ashore, was
flying at the stern of the Whaleboat
and all the marines were in uniform
Rear Admiral Mayo allowed the Huer-
ia commander until 6 o'clock that eve-
ming to fire a salute but later extended
the time to afford the local command
er an opportunity to communicate
with his superior officers in Mexico
City. A statement Of apology was is
sued in Mexico City by General Huer:
ia and the local officer who arrested
the marines was ordered punished
This did not satisfy the United States
government and the salute was Insist
ed upon.
General Huerta himself at no time
agreed to comply. but an under-secre
tary in the Mexican foreign office did
inquire of Charge O'Shaughnessy if a
saluate fired to the %gunboat Dolphin
ship would be acceptable. This was
emphatically rejected by the United
States and word was sent that nothing
short Of q public salute to the American
flag would be satisfactory
This was the situation laid before
the cabinet today by the president
There was a disposition on the part OF
some administration officials to wal;
for more facts n do nothing until
an investigation had been completed
Others suggested that Huerta would
evade the issues and delay and that
prompt and vigorous action was
necessary, John Lind, it Is under
stood, has in his conference with the
president and Secretary Bryan, coun-
selled a forceful move For W hours
the cabinet discussed the pros and
cons and the possible consequences OF
drastic action and the plan Of sending
the fleet as a warning to Huerta OF
the lengths to which the Washington
government was prepared to go to en-
force it's policy was unanimously
intimation that the naval ~demonstra-
ton would be ordered, but this rs vel
as other moves had been discussed on
many occasions in the past.
The cabinet officers and others were
insistent that no change in the gen
eral policy toward Mexico was immin-
ent and that so far as possible the
factions would be left to. fight theil
battles unhampered. by . American
Interference. It was stated by more thar
one official with emphasis that nc
other phases of the Mexican situation
beyond the affront to the flag at Tam
pico were involved in the dispatch OF
} the feet, though officials admitted the
strategic value Of having so big q
fighting force in proximity to a coun-
try in which emergencies might arise
at any time.
No direct statement Of explanation
Of the developments of yesterday was
issued either by the White House Oh
the state department, the announce
Iments from the navy department o.
naval orders alone furnishing the key
to the situation.
Action not words" was the way
cabinet officer described the answer
of the United States to Huerta's un'
Willingness to fire a salute when de-
manded by the American government
Incidentally a copy Of the nava
orders issued by Secretary Daniels j!
understood to have been transmitted
to Charge C'ShauEhnessy SO that tat
Huerta government might be inform
ed of the course which the United
States had adopted. 1t was said thai
there was no necessity of informing
other foreign governments unless &
state of blockade was declared.
News of the dispatch of the fleet tt
Mexican waters was received in con
gress with general satisfaction. II
the house, Representative Murdoch o
kansas publicly proclaimed the new:
! VI ocClO kC1 y ~ okASA ot1d hlLSi'
was a wild demonstration of approval
/ No public announcement was made II
; the senate, but the news quickl!
spread about the chamber and into thu
committee room where senators were
engaged in official business.
Tomorrow the situation will occupy
the attention Of the senate COMMITTEES
on foreign relations committee. Mem
bers of the house foreign relation:
committee today manifested keer
interest in developments and Repre-
sentative Floyd of Florida, conferred
with his colleagues about preparation
for any emergency that might arise
Beyond asserting that the situation
seemed to be a serious oTle, Acting
Chairman Shively Of the senate
foreign relations committee made nj
comment.
Many senators and Representatives
expressed themselves in sympathy
with the action Of the administration
in ordering more ships to Tanpico
but declined to be quoted In view O
the uncertainty as to what Nigh
~eventuate.
The despatch of the fleet created
only mild excitement in the nationa
capital generally. Newspapers order
ed their representatives to Hampton
Roads. and last night the navy de
partment had granted permission u
twenty reporters and photographer
to accompany the fleet on its cruise.
The American government has land
ed marines in San Domingo and Mic
aragua. but has held that permission
was granted in each case. In Nicar'
aqua American marines kept q rail
road from falling into the hands Of /;
rebellious force. Actual war or inter
vention could not be undertaken with
out authorization by the congress, an,
} even the landing of marines has a.
/ times raised a question in h senate
though it has led to no change in TIN
attitude of the executive branch Of tn,
government In constituting itself al
the Judge of such cases.
), Officials do not believe other foreigl
governments will send ships to Mexico
In view Of the American demonstra
ton. The affair is regarded as on
/. solely between the United States an.
!. the Huerta government and not in
yolving any other foreign government
cause European nations to seek fur
Their protection for their nationals
DIPLOMATS here took an active interes
in the DEVELOPMENTS and cabled thei
home governments h news as 1t ap
{ peared during the day.
While the concensus of opinion o
{ those best informed was that so seri
ous a step as military i~nterventiol
may not be required to force Huert
: to yield from his position on the cues
(. tion of a salute, they recognized to
days Developments carried the sit