The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-04-19
MEXICO AND u. S. on BRINK OF WAR

lVlENAO I
made by the leaders Of Congress for
receiving on Monday the address which
the President has announced he will de.
liver to that body In the event Of
Huertas continued defiance. The Presi.
dent ir his communication will ask the
authority OF Congress to use the armed
land and navy forces Of the United
states to enforce the demands OF this
Government upon Mexico. His request
will be almost similar to that made by
President Mckinley at tho beginning Of
he Spanish war.
Congress Ready 20 Act.
Congress will be Just a. prompt to
respond to President Wilson's request
as ii was to the memorable request OF
Mckinley. Preparations have been made
for the introduction OF joint resoiu.
ton granting the authority asked i'm
mediately after the completion Of the
Presidents address. II will he passed
Il once. and probably without a dis
senting vote.
The President has the general char
lined and he will complete the draft Of
1t at White Sulphur Springs. W. Va.
where he has gone to meet Mrs. Will
son and bring her back TO the White
House. The Presidents message win
set forth . record OF the insults to which
this Government has been subjected at
the hands Of Mexico and will contain a
recital OF the diplomatic exchanges
which eliminated to-day In the serv-
Ing Of the twenty four hour ultimAtum.
The text of the final demand IL by
this time in the hands Of Rear Admiral
Badger, who is in command Of the At
lantic fleet now steaming toward Tam
pico, and OF sll other commanders In
Mexican waters. 1t gives them notice
Of the growing acuteness Of the situa-
ton and Of the necessity for the final
preparations to undertake the blockade
and seizure Of all Mexican ports.
Huertas fiat refusal to fire the salute
to the American nag unless q salute Of
twenty-one guns is given by a United
States warship simultaneously is re-
garded here now as definite indication
of his desire to force the United States
to hostilities. There no longer remains
any doubt In Washington that Huerta
prefers to face a war with the United
States rather than subject his personal
fortunes solely to continue the campaign
against the Constitutionslists.
1t Is believed here that Huerta hopes
TO unite the factions Of the country be-
hind him and In the end retire with
honor and bs proclaimed a. a patriot.
His ,unyieldtns, attitude In the face
of the overpowering superiority of the
United States has led to revival Of
the rumors afioat in Washington some
time ago that Huerta would depend In
;he event Of an emergency upon the
sympathy Of Japan. These rumors are.
however. apparently groundless and
everybody here Is convinced that his
A series OF impressive events made up
the fecord OF the day in Washington.
President Wilson was at his desk q
few minutes after .. o'clock. He was ex-
pecting reply from Provisional President
Huertn TO this Governments refusal to
fire 4 simultaneous salute and was dis
appointed when Secretary Tumuity In
formed him that Mr. Bryan had not yet
heard from Mexico city.
From unofficial advices the President
learned that Huerta had discussed the
situation with his Cabinet and had In
formed Charge Oshaughnessy of the
Mexican attitude. firing Of waiting for
the Oshsughnessy message after hc had
gone through the routine of signing q
number Of letters and other official docu-
mente. the President decided to go for
his accustomed Saturday morning game
Of golf at the Washington Country Club
across the Potomac River. He left in his
automobile at 10 o'clock.
Message Comes In.
Soon after the Presidents departure the
smbassy's report Of Huerta's defiant re-
fusai began to tick In over the State De-
partnnent telegraph wires. II was taken
from the operators table sentence by
sentence and hurried into the hands Of the
cipher expert. who had been hidden by
Secretary Bryan to make all possible
haste.
Secretary Tumuty waited with Mr.,
Bryan In the ONCE Of the Secretary OF
state for the completion Of the message.
As soon as enough of its contents had
been read to disclose its purport Mr.
Tumulty tried vainly to get the President
to a telephone at the golf club. Unsble to
do this. he decided to rush out to the links
in an automobile. Secretary Bryan and
Mr.. Tumulty hurried from the State De-
partment together to waiting White
House automobile. BY this time the sus-
picions OF the waiting newspaper CORE
spondents had been aroused, but they
we're misled by Secretary Bryan's appear
ance. which recently had been trust
worthy barometer on the Mexican situa-
ton. This morning. though, he was snil-
Ing despite the realization that the news
he bore involved the probable shatter.
ing Of all his hopes that the Will
con Administration might complete
It's record without war The