Evening star., 1914-01-28
ARMS FOR HUERTA
BY PRIVATE SALE
Japanese Government Not a
Party to Transaction, 1t
Is Declared.
"0LD STORY REvAMPED,"
is WHITE HOUSE VIEW
President Not Responsible fol
Bringing Up Subject at Confer
ence With Senators.

| An old story revampcd' is all that
came from the White House today in
reply TO inquiries that the President had
told the foreign relations committee of
! the Senate Monday night that serious
situation exists over the alleged furnish
ing OF arms to the Huerta government
| in Mexico by Japan or Japanese firms
closely allied to that government
A careful investigation of the story
today appears to bring out these facts:
President Wilson did not bring up the
question OF japanese participation in the
furnishing of arms to Huerta. but the
matter was discussed very fully by a
senator who has long given study to
the alleged efforts OF Japan to get a
footing in Magdalena bay His injec-
ton of the problem into the conference
led to further talk, in which the Presi-
dent did not remain silent. although not
giving too much weight to conclusions
that the japanese government has any
thing to do with the arms and ammuni-
ton Huerta is getting.
Not From japanese Government.
The facts regarding the supply OF arms
and ammunition from Japan to the Huerta
government, as known by men who have
care lily investigated them, are that
| these munitions of war are being sent
to Mexico by the firm of Mitsu &
Co. not by the japanese government.
| When the contract for these arms was
first made the Huerta government was
much stronger than it Is at present. One
large shipment was sent to Mexico. for
which cash was paid Since then the
Huerta government has not been able to
pay cash. and only small shipments have
been sent.
Huerta has received most of his
munitions of war from Europe. prin-
cipally from France and Germany. 1t
became known here today. His min
lister of finance was in Paris making
arrangements for very large shipment
when the interest on the foreign debt
of Mexico was passed. Then Mexican
securities became SO insecure in Eu-
rope that the deal was held up.
Distribution of Marines.
Rear Admiral Fletcher. commanding
the American squadron in the Gulf of
Mexico. informed the Navy Department
today that il, distributing the battalion
of marines which has just reached Vera
Cruz from the Panama Canal Zone he
has assigned the battalion commander.
Maj. Smedley p. Butler. together with
his staff. and Company c. to the bat
tleship Minnesota. at Vera Cruz
Companies a. r and D have been as
signed, respectively. to the battleship
Kansas. at Tampico, and the cruiser
Chester and battleship Virginia, at Vera
Cruz The battalion stores, comprising
about 1906 tons have been placed tenn
porarily on the fuel ship Proteus. while
| the various company stores were trans
ferred with each company.
The three American warships mobilized
at Mazatlan. on the Pacific Mexican
coast. have dispersed. the gunboat York
town having gone to San Bias, the arnlor-
ed cruiser Pittsburgh to ManZanilo.
while the supply ship Nanshan has left
for San Francisco.
Former Mexican General Here.
ican general. who was recently report
ed to have been executed in Mexico
City. is in Washington. having come
here from Paris. Senior Gonzales said
! he had been in Paris for several
months. but plans to leave for Mexico
next week
Mexico for twelve years. and who has
| extensive interests in the states of
| Sonora and Coahuila. was in Washing
ton today. He praised Gen. Carranza
/ Huerta represents all that is reac-
| tionary and repulsive to modern civ
ilization and Institutions.
Suspension of Hostilities Reported.
| Reports received at the State Depart
ment from the American consuls in
Mexico told of general suspension of
active hostilities at threatened points.
such as Manzanillo. Guaymas and Tor
! reon. 1t Is understood there that the
| illness of Gen. Villa has stopped the
| forward movement of the constitutions
| alists, though it also has been init
| mated to the State Department that the
| attitude of the natives of Central Mexi-
4 CO is less favorable to the revolution.
| Much significance was attached TO
| the reported arrest by Gen Huerta' $
| order of some army officers of nigh
| rank on charges of treason. and there
| Is a disposition among the officials to
| regard this development as a sign of
| a growing belief among Huerta's ad-
\ herents Of the approach of climax
From Laredo IT was reported that a
| Mexican refugee. Samuel Canto. who
| was formerly mayor of Lainpaso was
| seized on the American end of the in
ternational bridge by two Mexican fed
| eral omcers, taken across the boundary
| and placed in prison. American Con-
sui Garrett, under orders from the
State Department. has made a protest
and a demand for the return of the
| man.