The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1914-04-17
STATES
May SEIZE
Continued From Page One.

COQIllu6O fTJU1 EdSS OASs
all the possibilities in the situation,
was quick to agree that the United
States government could not refrain
from answering the Mexican a~pologet-
ic guns and when besieged by senator's
at the capital later, he assured them
that a return salute was in accordance
with international custom.
For several hours Senator Shively's
attention was engaged by his col
leagues, who wanted assurances that
a return salute could not be consider
ed as 4 signal of recognition OF the
Huerta government. He fatty declar-
ed that it could not be so regarded;
that the United States government
had been dealing unofficially with the
Huerta regime as q de facto govern
ment and had never intended it any
official recognition: that the ultimat-
UNI had been served upon the de facto
government because it was the only
semblance Of government from which
reparation for insults could be asked.
During executive session late yester-
day senators discussed the reported
Huerta position informally and 1t was
agreed that the United States should
not bubble over returning the salute,
but there were some senators inclined
to the view hat the Acknowledgment
from Huerta for a return of the salute
should be ignored. " tiE'z2H@5.as
Demand the salute of the flag, and,
do as we please afterwards was the
way one senator expressed his opin-
ion. g. |F 800
You may be sure of one thing" said
Senator Chiffon of West Virginia,
that if a return Of the Mexican salute
by this government would mean rec
ognition of the Huerta government
there will be no American salute sin
answer to MeXico's apology. Another
thing the country may be assured of,
and that is that when President Will
son sets himself firmly as he has in
this case there will be no surrender
on his part"
Discussing the probability of allow
ing some of the ships, now en- route to
Mexican waters. to proceed regardless
Of acceptance of Huerta's offer, many
members of congress expressed the
opinion that the administration pro-
poses to ker a firmer hand on the sit
uation in the future and that further
reasons for vigorous action may de-
velop at any time.
Navy Department Statement.
The navy department issued the fol-
lowing statement regarding the return
salute:
IF a national salute is fired as an
'amende honorable it is invariably re-
turned gun for gun by a vessel Of war
Of the w whose flag has Just been
saluted. This is in accord with inter-
national comfy and there are many
precedents to establish the custom.
In Admiral Mayo's written conn
munication to the Mexican general,
zaragoza, at Tampico on April 8, was
the ORIGINAL demand made for a sa-
lutte to the flag; in this communication
General Zaragoza was informed by
Admiral Mayo that the salute would
be returned by the Dolphin"
Incidentally the dispatch of the war
fleets to Mexican waters brought up a.
discussion of possibilities in emergen-
cies. Mr.. Wilson held that while no
one doubted the right of the executive
to take immediate steps, such as the
landing of marines, or Pacific block
! ade. or even the bombardment of q,
coast town. it would be more natural
while congress was in session for he
president to work in close connection
with the legislative branch of the gov
eminent Whsther he had authority or
not to take aggressive steps.
Discussion of all these measures
ended in official circles when it be-
came known that the Huerta govern
ment had yielded. They attracted at
tention, however, as pointing to the
inclination Of the administration to be
aggressive in future dealings with the
Mexican authorities.
"Advices from Tampico,' said q
statement from the state department.
"are to the effect that warehouses Of
General Agencia ComerciaI. which
We're destroyed in the late attack on
Tampico, were the property of the
Mexican government, Tt is said that
while the buildings themselves were Of
little value. the merchandise stored in
them by the Agencia Comercial were
worth approximately half a million
pesos.o -