New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-05-15
fFrcm The Tribune Bureau ]


WASHINGTON. Nav 14.-The Constitu-
tionalist victory at Tampico has pro-
duced a diplomatic problem which
seems certain to perplex the admin
istration, and for which there is, sp-
parently, no solution in sight. Several
diplomatic representatives Of European
countries have asked Secretary Bryan
If it is the purpose Of the United states
to permit the unrestricted importation
Of arms and ammunition by the Car
ranzistas. and what course this gov
ernment would pursue regarding the
expected attempt of Villa and Car
rama to sell the cotton and other COM
modities of which they have despoiled
, foreigners at Torreon and elsewhere
/ foreigners who are the nationals Of the
countries represented by the diplomats
making the inquiry.
To these questions Mr. Bryan has re-
piled uniformly that he did not know
what course the United States would
pursue, intimating that it would be
time enough TO consider the problem
when importations of arms arrived az
Tampico or concrete efforts TO sell the
cotton and other spoils were made,
answers that were far from salts
factory 70 those instructed by their
governments to ascertain the purposes
Of the United States.
Merely Successful Bandits.
The radical divergence of view as N
the character OF the Constitutionalist
leaders, Villa and Carranza, between
several of the governments whose na-
tionals have been despoiled end the
opinion os these men entertained by
Secretary Ryan serves somewhat 10
complicate the situation. Rightly or
wrongly, most of these European gov
ernments regard Carranza and villa as
merely successful bandits, wholly desti-
tute Of respect for the rules Of civilized
warfare or the principles OF interna-
tional law, and they feel, therefore.
that Constitutionalist successes merely
increase the menace to the lives and
property of their nationals in Mexico.
II is pointed out at the Department
OF State that. technically. speaking
President Wilson has never proclaimed
the embargo on arms and ammunition
consigned 10 the Constitutionalists
from the United States; that what he
has done is merely to authorize the
military authorities 10 "detain" such
shipments at the border, but not to
confiscate them. as would be done were
an actual embargo proclaimed.
That the administration will be loath
70 take any steps TO check the supply
OF arms and ammunition abroad, and
of which the Constitutionalists are
sorely in need, is obvious. There is
reason 10 believe however, that Sec
retary Garrison. inspired now as be-
fore by the conviction that such arms
and ammunition inevitably will be used
against American troops ultimately.
will exert such influence as he pos
sesses to induce the President To pre-
vent their Importation.
European Protests Sure.
The question Of permitting the Car
ranzistas 10 market the spols they
have seized or exacted in the form OF
ransom from the nationals of Euro
pean countries is A purely diplomatic
matter with which Secretary Garrison
is not likely 10 interfere unless his ad-
vice is asked. That any attempt to
market these stolen" goods will be
met with emphatic protests from Euro
pean nations seems assured.
There is one phase Of the situation
which may relieve the administration
of dealing with the embarrassing prob
lens. and that is the possibility that
the Mexican gunboats maintained by
Huerta may be able 10 establish an
effective blockade OF Tampico The
Carranzistas have no means Of COM
batting huerta's sea forces and. insig-
nifcant as they may be from the point
OF view of nations having real navies.
they may prove invaluable TO Huerta
at Tampico
II Huerta does not succeed in estab-