Norwich bulletin., 1914-04-17
Will Continue Policy of Neutrality.

While the president declared the fir ing of the salute would close the Tam pico incident, it will have no particu- lar bearing on the general Mexican policy of the administration Other offenses, such as the arrest of mail orderly at Vera Cruz, have been apol- ogized for and the United States will continue it's position of neutrality. Incidentally the president and MT. Bryan drew attention to official reports which they had received praising Gen eral Villa and the coTlStitutionaliStS for their treatment of prisoners and foreigners in the bloody battle of Tor reon. Not a foreigner was injured, according to official reports from eye witnesses.
 Huerta's offer was received in con- gross generally with approval and members familiar with International lute from American guns could not be regarded as recognition of the Huerta regime or in any wise as beneath the dignity of the United States
 Senator Lodge, ranking republican member of the foreign relations com mittee who had said early in the day l that to return the salute would nullify | the effect of the apology, withdrew his l criticism after 3, telephone converse | ton with Secretary Bryan. The Mass l achuSettS senator was informed that naval officers and those familiar with ! precedents knew of no case where a ! 6I, 1 moreover, the statement that the sa-
 lute would be returned was included
 in Rear Admiral Mayo's original de- mand. Mir. Lodge said he had been 1 mistaken about it and expressed ths hope that the custom in such cases
 would be made clear to the country.
 Return Salute in Accord with Inter.
 national Law.
 When Senator Shively. acting chair
 man of the foreign relations committee
 visited the White House he learned from Secretary Bryan of the proposal
 from General Huerta to yield to the
 American government The Indiana.
 senator who had carefully studied all
 the possibilities in the situation, was
 quick to agree that the United States
 government could not refrain from an- | sWering the Mexican apologetic guns
 and when besieged by senators at the
 capitol later, he assured them that a
 return salute was in accordance with l international custom.
 During executive session late today senators, informally discussed the re- ported Huerta position and it was agreed that the United States should , not quibble over returning the salute; ; but some senators were inclined to the } view that the advance request from Huerta for a return of the salute l | should be ignored
 Demand the salute of the flag, and [ do as we please afterwards, was the way one senator expressed his opinion
 You Snay be sure of one thing, ], said Senator Chiffon of West Vir- 3 | ginia, that if a return of the Mex ] ican salute by this government would Q mean recognition of the Huerta gov 3 ernment, there would be no American
 salute in answer to Mexico's apology l Another thing the country may be as- = sured of and that is that when Pres g ident Wilson sets himself flnnly, as Y he has in this case, there will be nc : surrender on his part"
 Discussing the probability of allow e ing some of the ships, now enroute t to Mexican waters, to proceed regard e less Of the acceptance of Huerta's of = fer. many members of congress ex- [, pressed the opinion that the admin = istration proposes to keep a firmel S hand on the situation in the future ana = that further reasons for vigorous ac. l. tion may develop at any time