The Washington herald., 1914-06-09
]. 5. TRYING TO
HALT Arms ship
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE.


suits in case of failure to do this have
been uttered. yet It has been intimated
by members of the constituionalist tunta
that Carranza will not submit to this
interference on the part of the United
States. and will hold the steamship line
strictly accountable for the delivery or
the ammunition.
Up to ship Company.
The administration 1t is understood. 10
endeavoring to find some construction OF
the order forbidding shipments Of arms
across the border which might be brought
to apply to the AntiIla sailing from New
York with arms consigned to Mexican
port
In view OF the understanding with the
mediators that no arms for the rebels
would be landed during the proceedings
at Niagara Falls. the necessity Of hnd-
ing some way OF stopping the Antilla has
gained added importance.
As the order forbidding the shipment
Of munitions across the border enanated
from the White House II has been strong
ly suggested that II may be used as a
club in dealing with the steamship COM
panies to prevent them from landing
arms which have already left United
States ports. The more recent order
refused 1t is admitted by officials. can
not extend to the Antilla. which sailed
before the orders reached New York
The steamship company probably will be
forced 10 choose between disregarding
the hints OF the United States govern
ment. and the landing the arms, or fall
ing to carry out their obligations with
the constitutionalists, thereby incurring
almost certainly suits for heavy dam
ages.
Bryan StiIl Sphinx-like.
While Secretary Bryan maintains the
same silence which has characterized his
attitude on mediation since its beginning,
II became known through semi-official
sources last night that a note in the
hands of the mediators, and which is
now under discussion at the conference
is a protest from Huerta's delegates re-
garding the landing of the arms Their
protest, II was learned. Is based on the
understanding with the United States
that no arms be landed during the prog
ress of the negotiations. This is lr
great part responsible for the admins
| tration's anxiety to find legal means oi
preventing the Antilla from discharsine
her cargo.
Officials here disagree on Huerta's in
tentions in resembling the blockade order
Many are Of the opinion that Huerta hal
long secretely desired a break with tn,
United States, but has been too astute Il
permit anything to happen In which, h
would appear to disadvantage before tn
world. Other accept the explanation o.
the Huerta delegates at Niagara Falls
and believe that the dictator is perfect,
sincere in his actions
Those who support the first position
declare that the movement OF the gun
boats TO Tampico was a move on Huertat
part to induce the United States force
! to watch his every move. and follow hin
closely with a force superior to his own
| The blockade order. they declare. wa
not intended to be carried out. a with
| drawal of the order being based on tn
/ grounds that Huerta recognized that
| would be impossible to carry out, havini
| in mind the repeated declarations of tn
| United States government that Tampic,
would be kept an open port. and the pres
ence there OF a feet far superior i
strength to his own to enforce thei
| position. pc
establishing a blockade>at Tampico prob
ably will result in the floating by tn
| constitutionalists of a $4,000 gold loa
with a French and English syndicate o
! bankers in the near future. This loa
| will be at per cent and will be secure
by the customs receipts at Tampico. ]
will be for six months. with the privileg
of renewal at the end of that time an
, the possibility that a larger loan ma
result. The money will be used to pur
, chase arms.
The contamination of this loan was hel
up pending the result OF the Antilla Incl
dent. Representatives of the syndicat
were in Washington last week seekin
to ascertain to what extent the admins
tration would support them in the UT
dertaking.
They are given little satisfaction o
this score, but they did learn that tn
Niagara conferences would not be per
mitted to place the United States in a
attitude unfriendly to the constitutional
lists.
1t became known here yesterday tha
the agent which Carranza has for som
time maintained in New York for tn
purchase of arms has arranged for tn
early shipment of large quantities q
munitions to Tampico. The constitution
alists are known to have purchased an
contracted for more than 5000, 900 wort
of munitions in the last two weeks, th
in addition to those on the Antilla an
those awaiting reshipment at Galveston