New Britain herald., 1914-05-02
RUIZ WILL SUCCEED
 PORT|LLO Y ROJAS Under Secretary Appointed Mexican
 Minister Of Foreign AffdTS. NEGOTIATIONS NOT TO BE AFFECTED

Carranza Refuses to Agree to Neutral
 Zone in Oil Fields About Tampico-
 Huerta's Order for Dr. Ryan's Re-
 lease Relcaves Tension.
 Washington. May 2.--Licentiate Esteva Ruiz has been appointed min- ister of foreign affairs in the Huerta cabinet to succeed Portillo Rojas, retired. The Spanish ambassador here was officially informed by cable today of the appointment. He is communicating the new appointment to the med .a.t-s.
 Ruiz, the new foreign minister, was under secretary of Portillo. He has assisted in the mediation negotiations. Ruiz had been referred to as prob- able Huerta commissioner in case the mediators proposed a commission representing all parties to the con- troversy.
 The Spanish ambassador MT. Riano, carried the cable announce ment of Ruiz's appointment to the Argentine legation. The mediators were at on, } called together and conference began, the Spanish am- bassador taking part. The announce ment came nr a surprise to all.
 Negotiations Not Affected.
 The mediators stated, however, that the retirement of Portillo would in no way affect the negotiations.
 Outside the mediation conference the bearing of the Ruiz appointment caused widespread speculations.
 In some quarters it was felt that Huerta himself was directing affairs with a strong hand, and that Ruiz was more amenable to Huerta's di- rection than Portillo had been.
 According to the Mexican consti- tuition the minister of foreign affairs succeeds to the presidency in case of the presidents retirement when there is no vfce-president, as is the case now in Mexico. Hence Portillo was next in line for the presidency and Ruiz is now in that position.
 Senor Ruiz has been in the Mexi- can government service in various capacities for many year@
 Resignation Confirms Reports.
 News of the resignation of Jose Lopez Portillo Y Rojas, Mexican min- ister for foreign affairs, and his under secretary was regarded in some quar- ters here today as partially confirming the late reports of dissention among Huerta's supporters.
 It was said the ministers quit after the cabinet voted down the proposed of Portillo that an official commis- sion be sent to Washington to act in the attempt to settle differences be- tween Huerta and the American gov- ernment.
 Envoys Resume Conference.
 Undismayed by the refusal of Car ranza, rebel chief formerly to agree to the establishment of a neutral zone in the oil fields about Tampico the South American envoys today resumed negotiations aiming at a settlement of the Mexican crisis.
 Carranza's attitude in the Tampico situation was not unexpected. Creation of a neutral zone there would handi- cap the rebels investing operations Federals control the river along which the oil tanks are built. while rebels ! occupy the field on Tampico's out skirts. That situation, it was be-
 
 ing the field of fighting operations. However, the rebel chief notified the state department and the British am- bassador that his men had been warned to employ every precaution against destruction of the property, largely owned by English interests. Although the South American en- VOWS again were in communication with Carranza over their proposal for suspension of hostilities between Huerta and the rebels pending nego- tiations, word yet was to be received from him today. Until he makes a definite reply the mediators will be unable to determine whether their efforts for the present must be con fined to issues between Huerta and the United States government, or whether they may be broadened to include the entire Mexican situation. Dr. Ryan Released. A feature that relieved the tension today was the report that Huerta had ordered the release at Zacatecas of pr. Edward Ryan of the American Red Cross, who had been sentenced |. to death as a spy.
 Reports of anti-American outbursts brought Dy TeIuseeS rom Mexlco to Atlantic and Pacific ports, were tenn pered with the explanation that in many instances the police and soldiers had exercised all their resources to prevent fatal rioting. News that l there were 1,500 citizens of the United l States in Mexico City, gathered from | outlying states, caused scarcely any l apprehension. It was believed they 1 would soon be taken to Vera Cruz. Unofficial news from Vera Cruz that i the food situation might soon become acute unless there was speedy relief