Las Vegas optic., 1914-04-17

| WdS lStt1 HCu budO Ou6 uI the causes
of Huerta's latest parley was a feai
that should he give the salute de
manded, the American ships nigh
not return and thus leave him in 1
Inundated position. It was said thai
he would order the salute if assured
that the United States would comply
with the international amenities and
acknowledge it.
Word that the United States would
acknowledge his salute according te
custom and precedent went forward
Ito Mexico City.
Secretary Bryan made public the
terms of Admiral Mayo's demand on
the federal commander ait Tampico
for redress of his act in causing the
arrest Of the American bluejackets.
They follow:
IN view of the publicity Of this oc-
currence l must require that you send
Iby suitable members Of your staff
formal disavowal and apology for the
act, together with your assurance that
the officer responsible for it will re-
ceive severe punishment. Also that
you publicly hoist the United States
flag in prominent position on shore
and salute it with 21 guns. Salute
will be returned by this ship
Provisional President Huerta has
parleyed again. He demands that his
saluate to the United States flag shall
be returned simultaneously This
President Wilson is practically certain
not to accept.
This latest hitch at the eleventh
hour, when officials here expected
the situation was as good as closed
up, was disclosed in dispatches from
Charge O'shaugbnessy. President
Wilson discussed il with the cabinet.
Administration officials said private
" that Huerta's counter-proposition
would not be accepted.
The development confirmed the
fears Of those officials who expected
Huerta would equivocate again. All
intention Of recalling any ships Of
the fleet now bound TO Tampico was
abandoned and those close to the ad-
ministration expected to see Presi-
dent Wilson'S demand for an unquali-
fed apology backed up
The text of Charge O'Shaughnessy's
dispatches was not made public, but
it became Known that Huertas latest
proposal was that as his guns fired
their salute to the Stars and Stripes,
as an apology for continued affronts
to the United States, particularly the
recent arrest of blueiackets at Tam
pico, that the guns of the American
fleet should reply to the Mexican sa-
lutte gun for gun,
Officials here were ready to ac-
knowledge Huerta's salute of II
guns after it had been finished, with
return salute, such as is prescribed
in naval custom and precedent. That
would merely be acknowledging and
amende honorable, they say But to
return Huerta's salute gun. for gun,
they pointed out, would make the
apology valueless.
officials described Huerta's latest
move as an act to preserve his own
dignity before the Mexicans Of that
part Of the country under his control,
While President Wilson and the cab
met will decide what shall be done,
the opinion was expressed freely in
official circles that nothing but q
complete apology ana such salute
as the United States demand would be
accepted now.
While Secretary Bryan, when he
took the latest dispatches before the
president, said the situation was ZEN
couraging but not finished and
White House officials said the details
remaining in dispute did not affect
the heart Of the matter it develop
ed that Huerta's counter-proposition
for a simultaneous salute was regard
ed as another play for time, which
probably would not be countenanced.
All the latest dispatches were laid
before the cabinet Practically all the
members of the official family were
said to be agreed that there should
be no further temporizing.
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