Evening star., 1914-05-15
PRESIDENT CONFERS
W|THA. B. c. ENJOYS
ANDU.S. DELEGATES

CONTINUED From First Page>
nection to the American government Sc
/ that they may act in impartial and inter
mediary capacity on neutral soil
Upon the three mediators devolveS th'
real burden OF the conference at Niagara
4 Falls. They are to make all suggestion:
and initiate all moves. From them must
! come the plan which all parties will TAX.
/ under consideration. The American rep
resentatives have no plenary powers. but
are entirely unofficial In their character
They are to be only q medium OF com
munication between the United States
| government and the mediators. They
! bear no credentials In a formal sense
! but merely an autograph letter from the
President instructing them to act as a
channel of communication between the
Washington government and the three
South American ENJOYS who have ten
dered their good Offices for settlement
of the Mexican question.
Frederick w. Lehman. former solici-
tor general OF the United States, and
Justice Lamar of the Supreme Court of
the United States, who comprise the
American representatives, and H. Perci-
val Dodge. their secretary, were at the
State Department today going over ON
cial reports and famiIiarizing themselves
generally with the work ahead of them.
While they cannot act finally on propo-
st;ons submitted to them. they will be
empowered to answer good many ques-
tons about the American position with
ont reference to Washington Their
quarters will be on the American side
of the line to facilitate communication
with Washington by telephone and tele-
graph.
Speaking OF the request for postpone
ment of the mediation conferences, Secre-
tary Bryan said he thought the Huerta
delegates wanted the two extra days be-
cause their journey was long and con.
nection were close. and they wanted
time apparently. to establish themselves
comfortably at Niagara Fans pelore
opening the negotiations.
Mr.. Bryan said he had no definite rea-
son. however. for the postponement other
than the conjecture as to their personal
convenience.
Confidence In Mediation Growing.
Confidence that the mediation would be
ultimately successful in bringing about
peace in Mexico despite the temporary
DELAY was expressed by cabinet officers
after today's meeting. One OF the caol-
net members said confidence In media
ton was growing stronger each day, ano
that the possibility OF war was dlmlnlsh-
ing rapidly. He spoke OF the Tamplce
victory OF the constitutionalistS as llkeis
! to have an Indirect effect on the media
ton In that 1t reduced the Huerta gov
ernment's strength to oppose plans "nict
might be suggested for the pacincatiof
| of Mexico.
! from foreign ports other than the United
| States was not discussed at the caplne'
| meeting, but one of the cabinet oiHceiS :
| in close touch with Mexican affairs salu
he did not believe the American gov
ernment would attempt to interfere with
foreign shipments in any way
The cabinet meeting brought out no
vital developments the discussion about
policy being brief and general
Secretary Daniels spoke of the apparent
return to normal conditions in the Tam
pico oil fields. saying this had relieved
the American government of considerable
anxiety.
Secretary Bryan said he had no further
world about ]. r. Siliman, the missing
American vice consul. and believed he
was still in Satillo. Although the Huerta
government has ordered Silliman's relea Sc
there is some doubt here about the abll-
ity of Mexico City officials to communi-
cate with Saltillo, as the telegraph lines
north are said to be interrupted.
Extent of Courtesies Not Known.
To what extent Huertas mission will
accept courtesies on their arrival In
Washington tomorrow was not known to-
day They had been instructed to con-
fer with the mediators over that question.
First intimations of the scope of their
authority were revealed in a statement
by Senior Rodrigues, spokesman for the
party, who declared:
Have Full Power to Act.
I'VE have full power to act: We carry
no formula, and we shall decide accord
ing to our consciences, always bearing IN
mind the national honor
That applied. however. to issues be-
tween the Huerta government and the
United States. The Mexican delegates
| Senior Rodrigues said, would deal only
| with external issues of the situation be-
! cause Of the attitude Of Carranza that
! an attempt to compose internal affairs IT
Mexico would be beyond the bounds OF
| diplomatic activity.
| Stumbling blocks in the way Of the
| Niagara Falls conference that hae
| threatened aggravating deveiopments
| early In the week appeared to be dlsap'
pearing today. The Lobos incident va:
| r.~arded as closed by the assertion ol
| the State Department that there had beer
no seizure of the island. and that ths
! MeNicans could reoccupy 1t wheneve
/ they were prepared to maintain the
| lighthouse. Disposition of the Souu
Americans held at Vera Cruz for snip
| ing" during the American occupauor
still was held in allegiance. pending Sec
| retary Bryans investigation.
Lobos Island Incident Closed.
Regarding the Lobos island lighthouse
| incident, Secretary Bryan believed tha
| he laid this issue to rest two days agt
| when, in reply to Gen Huertas protest
| he submitted a written memorandum Il
the mediators informing them that ther'
| had been no seizure of the island. tha
| the only force used. and that was purel,
nominal, was in preventing the remova
| of portions OF the lighthouse machinery
essential to the operation of the light
| and, finally, that the Mexicans could re
occupy the island and the lighthouse a
any moment they were prepared to keel
the light u operation.
incidentally. Secretary Bryan acqu!tte,
OF any blame Lieut.. Commander Jeffer
of the destroyer Tanning. who gave tn
nghtkeeper certalfcate that he haI
taken possession of the light by force
The Secretary intmated that the onl
criticism might lii. against the con
struction that might have been place
upon that formality.
IL was a Mexican and not a Norwegta
vessel from which shots We're firc,
against Americans at Vera Cruz 70
which incident five South American
were arrested. according to a repor
) from Gen. Funston TO Secretary Garriso
today The case is still under investiga
tion. proceedings in the military couI
against the Ave being meanwhile sus
pended.
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