Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1914-05-07
MINISTER ROJAS RESIGNS
FROM HUERTA'S CABINET

Washington. May 4.-Licentiate Els
teba Ruiz has been appointed minister
of foreign affairs in the Huerta cabi-
net to succeed Portillo y Rojas, re-
tired. The Spanish ambassador here
vas officially Informed of the appoint
ment by cable this morning. He is
communicating the new appointment to
the mediatorS.
Ruiz, the new foreign minister, was
under secretary of Portillo y Rojas. He
tons and it is auth%oritatively stated
that the change will not affect the
continued progress of the mediation
plans. Ruiz had been looked to as
probable Huerta commissioner IN case
the mediators proposed a commission
representing all parties to the contro-
versy.
The Spanish ambassador, Mr.. Rlano,
carried the cable announcement or
Ruiz's appointment to h Argentine
legation. The mediators were at once
called together and a conference pc
gan with the Spanish ambassador tax
Ing part.
Washington Surprised.
The appointment OF Ruiz and retire
ment of Portillo y Rojas the latter hav-
ing made known last night. came as q
complete surprise to officials here,
particularly to the mediators and the
Spanish Ambassador who had received
III illlA vi al iilApCAlolAi6 SAAoAaoS $500
mediators had carried on all their nego-
tiations up to this time with Portillo y
Rojas and his retirement was regarded
as ~unfavorable until the cable an
nouncement reached Mr.. Riano that
Ruiz had taken the direction of foreign
affairs.
The mediators had planned three ses-
sions today the first beginning at l
o'clock. Up to that time they had not
heard of Ruiz appointment. But the
over night development On the rtire-
ment Of Portillo y Rojas was receiving
close attention. as the mediators had
carried on all their negotiations with
him up to this time. The proposition
of good offices was made to Portillo Y
Rojas and accepted by him. So that
his removal took away one who had
been a chief figure In the progress thus
far made.
The mediators stated. however, that
the retirement of Portillo would in no
way affect the negotiations. 1t was
pointed out that the acceptance of the
Huerta government, both of good Of
fees and Of the armistice, was in COM
plete force, SO that the retirement Of
the minister was construed by the
neditators as being merely the change
Of one man and not Of great signif-
canoe on the main issues of mediation.
Huerta at the Helm.
Outside the mediation conference,
the bearing of the Ruiz appointment
caused widespread speculation. The
fact that he had been mentioned as a
probable Huerta commissioner in case
the mediators proposed a commission
to settle the entire trouble, led to the
belief that Ruiz would pursue the
same friendly policy shown in the
negotiations up to this time. But in
some quarters it was, felt that Huerta
himself was directing affairs with a
strong hand, and that Ruiz was more
amenable to Hueta's direction thar
Portillo y Rojas had beer.
1t was pointed out that according to
the Mexican constitution, the minister
of foreign affairs succeeds to the
presidency in case Of the presidents
retirement when there is no vice presi-
dent, as is the case now in Mexico.
Hence Portillo was next in line for the
presidency and Ruiz is now in that
position.
Senior Ruiz has been in the Mexican
government service in various icapa-
cities for many years, but has never
affiliated himself with any particular
faction. His position has been analo-
gous to that of an assistant secretary in
our state department.