The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-20
PEACE DELEGATES WILL BE ALLOWED
 AMPLE LATITUDE Mexican Situation Relaxes Notably As Center of Ac-
 tivities Is Shifted U. s. COMMISSIONERS
 LEAVE FOR SCENE Plans Made to Keep President In Conc stant Touch With Proceedings. Q Missing Mexicans Still
 Causing Worry

Washington. May ls.-with media ton proceedings removed to Niagara Falls, Ont, nctivity here In the Mex ican situation was notably relaxed to- dny. It was the evident purpose of the Washington government to give the conference the ampIest opportunity to sibIe influence from the outside.
 American commissioners left early in the day for the scene of the conference and later were followed by Minister Sua- reg of Chile, the last of the mediators to leave Washington. All will be on hand for the opening of the conference to- morrow.
 A special telegraph wire from the head quarters of the American representatives at Niagara Falls to the White House was installed during the day to keep the President in close touch with every step of the proceedings. All important ques- tions will be submitted to the President before the American representatives will take any action.
 There was every indication al the White House that officials do not expect pro- longed conference
 Discuss Conditions
 President Wilson and the cabinet dis cussed conditions today, but there were no notable developments relating to Mex ico. In the Senate brief debate was pre- cipltated when Senator Williams of Mis- issippi read a letter from a government official at Vera Cruz. whose identity he withheld, stating that '.the noisiest things in Mexico were American dollars
 AnSiot oeer persistent iask of inforna- tion as to American Consul John R. Silli- man at Saltillo, and 10 members of the smith family, reported held at Tonola, Chapas. continued at the state department and diplomatic efforts 10 obtain definite reports were pressed
 The state department, in response to an urgent message, received report from the Brazilian minister in Mexico City stating that representations had been made to the Mexican foreign office several times concerning the Smiths. and that the Brazilian minister had urged the British consul at Chiapas to use his good offices to secure the release of the Americans. Broken railroad communica- tion between Mexico City and Saltillo was accepted as the reason for the fail- ure of hear from Silliman, although the arrival of train in Mexico City from San Luis Potosi without him caused dis appointment.
 Conditions Quiet
 The Brazilian minister Secretary Bryan announced, reported conditions quiet in Mexico City, and stated that arrange ments had been made to send a special train with POO refugees from the capital tomorrow night for Puerto Mexico
 Navy department dispatches made it clear that Mexican federals, fleeing from defeat at Tampico, had left the oil fields about that city. Admiral Badger re- ported that between POGO and 4000 troops under General Zaragozn had stopped at Panuco City, another oil center, but later were left unharmed. Oil operatives are returning to resume operations in the Tampico field, where all is reported quiet
 The constitutionalst authorities have ordered operations resumed in the cotton mills at Torreon, and intend to use the cotton conf1scated from the Spanish grow
 
 received by representatives of the former owners here. This introduces an addi- tional complication for the owners. who have been endeavoring to recover their confiscated property. as once manufac- tured into thread the confiscated cotton no longer could be identified on the inter- national market.
 State and war department officials awaited further information as to the fate of Private Samuel Parks No in- formation as to Parks was forthcoming from any source, although the horses that disappeared through the Mexican lines near Vera Cruz with the American soldier were mysteriously returned to the American lines.
 Secretary Bryan made clear today the status of Dr. Edward w. Ryan of Scran- ton, Pa, at the time he was thrown into jail by the federal authorities at Fres- nillo on the charge of being a spy pr. Ryan was authorised by Charge Nelson O'Shanghnessy to go to Torreon and rem der medical assistance to refugees. He was not commissioned to collect informa- tion for the state department and was not connected with the Red Cross. Dr. Ryan and Mir O'shaughnessy called at the White House today and talked with Secretary Tumulty, but did not see the President.