Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-06-11
Disagreement between United
States Delegates and Media
tors Becomes Serious.
ENJOYS TALK ALL DAY
Mexican Agents Consider Method
of Succession, the Chief
Point at Issue, to Be a
Technically.

Niagara Falls. Ont, June 1O.-Differ-
ences of opinions so serious that they
| imperil the continuance of the con-
ferences here have developed between the
American delegates and the mediation
| plenipotentaries. On two vital points
there is fiat disagreement.
First, the medators. representing pre-
| sumably the viewpoint of the Mexican
delegates. are insisting that the provi-
sional president of Mexico shall be a
| neutral who shall not have been an
| active partison in the constitutionalist
cause.
The American delegates have emphati-
cally stated that unless the choice falls
upon a man of distinct constitutionalist
sympathies, not necessarily military
chief or leader, but one who would com
mand their confidence, there can he no
hope of constitutionalist acceptance Of
any peace program adopted here.
L. S. DETERMINED
Secondly, the United States government
is unalterably determined that the meth
Cd of transition from the present regime
through the appointment by General
Huerta as minister of foreign affairs of
| the man agreed upon for provisional pres
ident. To permit him to exercise the con-
stitutional function of naming his sue
| cessor, according to the American view
point, would be equivalent to recognition
of the Huerta government.
This View is forcefully opposed by the
mediators who argue that inasmuch az
the world will know the mediation confer
cnce had selected the next provisional |
president. the form of succession is not
important.
Which is the greater sacrifice the
mediators ask, for General Huerta to
name a minister Of foreign affairs
whose political principles were not in
accord with hi sown and then to have
the latter almost Immediately succeed
him as provisional president of Mexico,
or for the United States to yield on
the technicalitY as to the manner in
which the transfer should be made? Z?
This is the argument which they have
presented to the American govern
ment.
REASONS FOR OPPOSITION
The American delegates are against
what the mediators term the consti-
tutional method of succession, not only
because of their governments consis-
tent policy of non-reCoEnition of
l1uerta. but because the constitutions
lists have informed Washington that
they will never accept a Huerta ap-
pointee as provisional president and
peace cannot be restored without their
acquiescence.
The mediators were wholly occupied to-
day with a discussion OF these points
among themselves. They did not confer
with either the American or Mexican dele
gates. The latter let II be known that they
considered the method Of succession a
techncallty but would not definitely say
whether they would yield their position.
They are anxious. however, that the pro-
v!sional president shall be neutral and,
If possible, a man who has not been ider-
tilted with any political faction In Mex
leo. They would not accept a consttu-
tlonalist partisan, they say, especially no
active worker in that movement
The United States has taken firm posi-
tion that there can be little prospect of
pea aceful settlement unless the media
ton recognizes the military conquest OF
the constitutionalists and takes into con-
sideration the proba bility that the constitu-
tionalists soon Will forcibly enter Mexico
City unless mediation ends the civil strife
and establishes a new government on u
pea ceful ba sis
No names have been suggested yet
for the provisional presidency but in
arguing about the type of man for the
post the American delegates have TAX
On into account that the constitution
alists claim there would be little
chance Of pacifying all the elements
In their party and persuading their i'm
mense army to lay down its arms un-
less the man chosen commanded the
absolute confidence of their cause The
American delegates are not insisting on
General Carran2a or General villa or
any of the other military chiefs for
provisional president but they do be-
lieve constitutional should be chosen
who is broad minded enough to he
trusted by all factions in Mexico.
Tomorrow tho mediators expect to dis
cuss these points In detail with the
Mexican delegates The mediators shed
no light to-day on how they intend to
surmount these difficulties. but one of
their number said he felt confident no
obstacle could arise which would disrupt
mediation and that all differences would
be reconciled. Another OF the mediators
was of the opinion that generalities as
to the type of man to be selected were
worthless unless names were brought
into the discussion. Even the mediators
concede that the man selected to succeed
Huerta temporarily must be a constitu-
tionalist sympathizer.
NJ