The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1914-04-23
TERMINATION OF NEGOTIATIONS
FOLLOWS DlcTAToR'S lG-
NORING OF U. S.
DEMANDS.
DECLARATION OF WAR NOT
INVOLVED IN CONTROVERSY
Mexican Government Not Recognized
AS Such, Hence Impossibility
of Formal Proceedings-To
Seize Ports and Block
Harbors.

Washington, April ~21.-General Vic
toriana Huerta, provisional president
of Mrdco, fatty refused to accede TO
the unconditional demands of the
United States that he salute the
American flag, and congress is asked
by President Wilson for authority to
used armed force to uphold the honor
and dignity of the nation.
Negotiations with Huerta over the
demand for a salute in reparation for
the arrest of American bluejackets
at Tampico on April 10, came to a
close Sunday night at six o'clock,
the last hour given by President Will
son for a favorable response from
the Mexican dictator. The final word
OF Huerta to Charge O'Shaughnessy
was a refusal to comply unless the
United States would guarantee in writ
Ing that his salute be returned.
In the meantime American war
fleets have been moving down both
coasts on their way to Mexican wa
tiers to carry out the presidents plan
for reprisals.
Can't Declare War.
The crisis thus reached does not
mean that there will be a formal
declaration of war, because the Unit
ed States could not declare war
against a government which it does
MOI recognize. President Wilson will
seek authority, however, to send the
armed forces into Mexico to seize
first the ports of Tampico and Vera
Cruz and the railroad trestle leading
from Vera Cruz toward Mexico City.
A cabinet meeting was called at
10:30 o'clock and the final arrange
ments made for a Pacific blockade
OF Mexican ports and other steps
taken.
The breach that finally has come
with Mexico will make it impossible,
1t is declared on high authority, for
the United States further to protect
foreigners in hat republic and for
eign governments have been notified
Of the situation in this regard.
Committees Meet.
In preparation for the crisis that
must be met, Senator Shively, chair
man of the senate foreign relations
committee and Representative Flood.
chairman of the foreign affairs COM
mittee. called meetings of these COM
mittees. Representative Flood, who
is on his honeymoon, telephoned from
New York that he would return at
once.
A dispatch was received from
Charge O'Shaughnessy. saying that
General Huerta was willing to accede
to the demand of Admiral Mayo pro-
viding a protocol was signed and set
ting forth a copy of the proposed pro-
tocol. Charge O'Shaughnessy asked
whether he was authorized to sign 1t.
1t was communicated to President
Wilson by telephone and at his direc,
ton a telegram was sent to Mr..
O'Shaughnessy OF which the following
is a paraphrase:
THE president replied: Your re-
ply to O'Shaughnessy is exactly what
! should have wished IL to be. In no
case should any concession of any
kind In detail or otherwise be made.
Wilson insisted that the salute be not
fired as a matter of contract or with
any stipulation that 1t be returned by
us. 1t must be fired in accordance
with international custom as an apol-
ogy for the insult offered. General HUI
erta must trust hat the United States
will live up 20 the requirements of in
ternational courtesy in returning his
salute when 1t shall have been fired.
The proposed protocol is especially OBJ
~jectionable for 1t is so phrased that
General Huerta might construe 1t as
recognizing his government, whereas
the president has informed General
Huerta and the foreign governments