The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-06-15
Mediation at Most Critical Stage, But Officials
 Are Hopeful
MANY ARE WORKING
 IN HUERTA'S BEHALF
Are Trying to Save Face of Mexican Dictator-Charles A. Towne of New York Would Confer With
 President Wilson

NdSHlnSto June l4-Au1nlttlng tndt Mexican mediation at Niagara Falls is at its most critical stage, having reached the point where the personnel of the provis- ional government to succeed Huerta must be selected, Washington officials tonight nevertheless were hopeful of ultimate peace and still insistent that negotiations were progressing satisfactorily. ] Administration leaders were apprecia tive, however, of the importance of the developments of the next few days will have on the situation confronting the na- tions involved, and throughout the day President Wilson and Secretary Bryan were in frequent communication with the American commissioners. Justice Lamar and MT. Lehman, at Niagara Falls. There is nothing to announce" said MT. Bryan tonight following interchanges with the American commissioners. but mediation still progresses satisfactorily We are not changing our view of the sit uation."
 Communication from the American dele gates at Niagara Falls with the Wash ngton government was said to relate to
 
 | government to be established pending a constitutional election. Selection of the provisional President and his associates was considered at session of the medi- ators and commissioners of both American republics yesterday. According to reports received here the Huerta delegates and | those from the United States differed widely on the names proposed.
 l Candidates Name Submitted i Today the name of candidate for the provisional presidency suggested by the Mexicans was reported to have been sub mitted to President Wilson and Secretary l Bryan. His name was not made public 1 So far as could be learned the Wash ington administration still held to desire that the provisional President should be a man acceptable to the contsitutional- | ists.
 While the mediators are struggling lwith the problem Of succession of HDer- ta. there were additional evidences of efforts to bring influence on beholf of lthe Huerta government to bear upon the 1 Washington administration. Agents | from Mexico City are reported to have arrived here and to be in communica- tion with the Huerta delegates at Mag ara Falls. Working in Huertas behalf also is Charles A. Towne. the New York I attorney, whose mission here in the in terest of Mexico City government was disclosed yesetrday. MT. Towne is seek ing confernece with President Wilson. According to persons in Washington in touch with the Huerta element the lagents of the distator are making every effort now to save General Huerta's l face. They want concessions enough on behalf of the United States to save l Huerta from complete humiliation. In order to save Huerta from humilia- tion 1t is argued here, However. the only thing to be done would be to name a provisional president who is no way laIlied with the revolutionary move ment in Mexico, and constitutionalsts repeatedly have asserted that such a man could not bring peace to the repub- ilic,
 The arrival in Washington today of Pedro Del Villar, an associate of Gen. leral Felix Diaz, led to a renewT of reports that Diaz and Huerta were seeking to reach an arrangement upon the provisional government plans to be tinisted by the Huerta delegates at Mag ara Falls. Rafael Zubaran, chief agent Iof General Carranza in Washington, said no word had come tonight from his chief with relation to the media ton conference
 Niagara Falls, June 14.--Though there were no conferences today be- tween the mediators and the American or Mexican delegates. 1t was apparent things were making for titanic strug gle in diplomacy between the United I States and the Huerta government this week.
 Has Passed Many Obstacles
 While mediation has passed safely over many obstacles the factor on Which peace most depends the selection of provisional president acceptable 10 all factions has brought the entire mediation body to realization that ultimately on this mediation will sue ceed or fail.
 Many names have been suggested but thus far none has been found suitable. The discussion of names will continue for several days
 The United States demands that a I jconstitutionalist be selected. The Amer lean government believes the only so- lution of the present tangle is to place ithe executive power in the hands of :, broad minded constitutionalist through a peaceful negotiation rather than to have the inevitable occur-a military conquest of Mexico City with the pos bility of international complications through injuries to foreigners.
 Constitutionalist Favored
 It became known today that the Uni ted States informed the mediators at the very outset that 1t contemplated favorfng constitutionalist for provfs- ional president
 The American delegates have made if clear the Washington government has no preference for persons or parties The Mexican delegates have argued. for a "neutraT not identified with any fac tion. but this the American delegates know will not pacify the constitution alists who refuse to disband their big army in obedience to an individual not know nto them. Huerta officials have suggested no names thus far.
 The American delegates are waiting flor the Washington government through it's close communication with Ithe constitutionalists to learn who
 would be acceptable to them. The arr rival of constitutionalists. 1t is gen orally agreed. would facilitate the choice of provisional president. but Ithe mediators have closed the door to them because they have not declared an armistice.
 No opportunity has come from the American government to outline It's Alternate course of as tfon should med iiation fail. While the United States might resume it's attitude of passive 'observation as the constitutionalists pressed onward, intimations have como ] from well informed quarters that ] American occupation Of Mexico City x- x1~~ x~ <x~~--