Evening star., 1914-06-05
Situation Which U. S. May
Face at Tampico Causes
DeIiberation.
ANOTHER VESSEL SAILS
WITH WAR MUNITIONS
Bryan Noncommittal as to Course
When Rebel Supplies Reach
Destination.

The situation confronting the Washing
ton government with reference to ship
ments of arms to constitutionalist forces
at Tampico continued today as the alb
sorbing subject of deliberation in official
quarters.
A report reached the State Department
that another steamer loaded with a,nmu-
milton had cleared from New York to-
day for Galveston. Inasmuch as the re-
cent order was to refuse clearance onfy
to ammunition ships for Mexican ports,
it was stated there could be no denying
clearances to ships billed to an American
port At Galveston. reports reaching
here declared, ammunition on the ship
sailing today would be transshipped to
Tampico.
Secretary Bryan reiterated again that
Tampico still is held as an open port,
that several ships are
en- route there with arms for the con-
stitutionalists.
"Will it continue as an open port when
ammunition reaches there" he was
asked.
Il can only talk of the present. leav-
ing the future to those who would spec
ulate,' returned the Secretary.
Huerta's Ships Watched.
officials Of the State and Navy De-
partments were occupied today with
plans for meeting any trying situation
that might arise at Tampico through
efforts of Huerta to establish blockade
to halt shipments Of arms for Car
rama. 1t had been reported that fed
eral gunboats had been ordered to
Tampico. American war vessels OF Al
varado and Puerto Mexico reported.
however, that Huertas ships had
made no move to leave. They will con-
tinue under the surveillance OF the
American men-of-war.
The destroyer Jenkins has been or
dered from Lobos Island to take sta
ton off Tuxpam, where Americans and
feel the permanent presence Of an
American warship will insure tran
quillity.
Officials at the State and Navy de-
partments do not believe Huerta in
tends to enforce the blockade Gen.
lished at Tampico. inasmuch as Mexf-
can gunboats stationed at Alvarado
or Puerto Mexico have not yet moved.
Vessel Now on Way.
Shipments of arms for Carranza that
left New York and Galveston were likely
to reach their destinations, unmolested,
it was believed here today. While orders
had been issued to prevent the clearance
of vessels carrying arms for any Mexican
port, yet two steamers sailed with war
cargoes through failure of the State De-
partment's instructions to reach proper
officials in time.
Whether the American government
might stop these shipments at Tampico
was a question upon which no definite Of
ficial light had been thrown today.
Additional interest was manifested
when it became known today that that
vessel flies the Cuban flag. and not the
American colorS. For this reason, 1t is
pointed out by persons close to the
counsels of the constitutionalists, that
the United States, under international
law, has no right to Interfere with the
movements of the vessel or its cargo,
except that it may become its duty to
protect that portion of the latter which
is the property of American citizens:
AS a matter of fact, practically all OF
the cargo, with the exception of the
cartridges on board rs consigneo TO
Tampico or vicinity. and its delivery Is
particularly urgent because Of the sus-
pension of commerce which antedated
the capture Of the port by the consti-
tutionalfstS.
Not Without Precedent.
The situation at Tampico is not with
out precedent and is almost identical
with conditions that existed in Blue
fields during the revolution against
Madriz in 19U9-10. At that time the rev.
olutionists under Gen. Estrada. were in
tent on forcing from power DR.. Madriz,
the titular president of the defacto gov
ernment at Managua. But the United
States also recognized Gen. Estrada as
chief of the revolutionary faction in de
facto control of the Atlantic coast, with
Headquarters at Bluefields. The Madriz
government equipped a warship called the
Venus. and sent the latter to blockade
the port and seize the custom house of
Bluefields, the principal commerce of
which was conducted with New Orleans.
few days after the arrival of the
Venus several foreign vessels attempted
to enter with American cargoes. and the
captain of the American cruiser Des
Moines. pursuant to orders from Wash
ington, notified the Venus that she would
not be permitted to interfere with the
commerce of the place In any way, either
by the establishment of a blockade or
otherwise. At that time the revolution
lists were permitted to freely import mu-
nitions of war from the United States