The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-04-22
HuERTl GRUDGINGlY SUBMITS
DICTATOR AGREES TO SALUTE
AMERICAN FLAG AS DE-
MANDED.
Dispatch OF Warships to Blockade
Mexican Ports Takes The Starch
Out of Bcllicosc Dictator Who Will
Order Salute Of American Flag ut
Tampico.

washington, Aprii l6.-The Unitcu
States government tonight accepted
Gen. Huertas offer to salute the Stars
and stripes as an apology for the ar
rest OF American bluejackets at Tam
pico a week ago today. The Huerta
governments salute to the American
Nag will be answered with salute to
the tri-color of the Mexican nation.
This arrangement, the details of
which were being finally arranged to-
night In an exchange OF official mes
sages between Washington and Mexico
City. ended. In the view OF all high
administration officials. the crisis that
had resulted In the dispatch OF Ameri-
can war ships To Mexican waters. Ex-
ecutlve officers and congressman
breathed a s.gh OF relief that the ten
sion had passed.
No time has been set for the firing
Of the salute and until the details
are arranged. no further orders will
he sent to the American fleet now
proceeding south. II is practically cer-
tain. however. that while many o. the
vessels will be turned back, others
will continue south and substantial
ly increased naval force will be main
tained in Mexican waters.
Huerta's offer and request for q re-
turn salute caused President Wilson
To ask for an opinion from the coun-
selor OF the State department and
navy department. officials. All report
ed that IL was the invariable custom in
naval practice to return salute and
cited prccedents. The president also
was informed that Rear Admiral
Mayo. on making his original demand
FOR a salute, agreed to return the
courtesy.
Mr.. Wilson said return OF a salute
under such circumstances did not in
volve recognition OF the Huerta gov
ernment. but was merely an act Of the
same character as grasping the hand
Of an individual who was apologizing
as he extended 1t. Secretary Bryan,
too. took the view that the American
salute would be given TO the flag of
the Mexican nation. just as much re-
spected by the constitutionalists as The
Huerta government. and no technical
recognition was involved.
.Precedents In which the United
States returned the salute OF other
nations who apologized to it were
cited at the white House and navy
department. and II was generally
agreed in executive quarters that Gen
Huerta's compliance with the Ameri-
can demand had dissipatcd tense
situation.
In less than AZ hours after Presi-
dent Wilson had ordered the Atlantic
and Pacific fleets To Mexican waters
and had informed Gen. Hucrta that
unless n salute was fired GO atone for
repeated offense against the dignity OF
the United States there would be Sc
rious consequences. the answer came
"a complete acceptance OF the de-
mand OF the Washington government.
Immediately there was a change in
tho atmosphere OF official Wash
ington. AS the storm clouds lifted and
a wave OF satisfaction spread through
official quarters. President Wilson ar
ranged to 40 TO White Sulphur Springs
w. Va, for the Weekend. and Secre-
tary Bryan, who Is i'll. planned to take
his long delayed trip To Miami Fla.
Attention that had been temporarily
directed from the legislative pro-
gramme turned again to congressional
routine.
The numerous happening which led
to the aggressive stand of the Amer
lean government. the strong pressure
brought TO bear at Mexico City by
Charge O'Shaughnessy and the diplo-
matte representatives Of other gov
ernments. backed by advices from the
French and German ambassadors at
Washington. who learned from the
state department the scrious intention
OF the Washington government. all
had brought about grave interna-
tional crisis. Congress showed its
readiness to stand by the administra
tion and the house committee on for
eign affairs passed resolution up
holding the presidents position.
While the president declared the
firing OF the salute would close the
Tampico incident, IL will have no par
ticular bearing on the general Mexi-
can policy OF the administration.
Other offenses. such as the arrest OF
" mail orderly at Vera cruz have been
"pologized for and the United States
VIII continue it's position of neutrality
DetWCen tho TO. IL