The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-18
Reform of Mexican Land Laws
Is Chief Aim of Washing
ton Administration.
HUERTA Is A MINOR ISSUE
Recognition to Be Withheld
Even if Rebels Win Until
Full Pledge Is Given.

Tor the permanent settlefncnt OF tne MICA
lean situation goes far beyond the mere
elimination OF Huerta from the provisional
Presidency. It contemplates radical re-
Organization of the present system OF land
holding in Mexico.
II was learned to-day on the best au-
thority that the Washington Government
is prepared TO insist upon this reform in
any settlement of the Mexican situation.
The President and his advisers are con-
WINGED that the abolition OF the present
semi-feudal land holding system in Mex
leo and the opening up OF these vast
properties to ownership by the poems is
fundamental to a complete and perma-
nent restoration Of peace in Mexico. The
Administration will insist upon assur-
ances Of this reform even IL Carranza and
villa are in control at Mexico city.
There Is good reason In fact to believe
that President Wilson, In tho event of a
Constitutlonalist victory, with wlthhC d
recognition from the Carranza Govern
ment until absolute pledges of this char
acter have been given. As viewed y
Administration leaders any settlement OF
the Mexican situation which does not
provide for the doing away of the present
system of land ownership Ly a SIN. Il
group OF favored individuals Is certain to
fail. There would follow a repetition {
the scenes of the last two years under
new leaders and with possibly new troops
but the spirit OF discomfort and revolution
would. It is commended. be just as strons
as it Is to-day.
Huerta Not the Real Issue.
Huerta, as tho Administration has nov
come TO view the situation in the southern
republic, merely typifes a system OF gov.
eminent in Mexico which must be de-
stroyed before the United States can hop
for permanent peace and order on It's
southern border. At present tho Admin.
istration believes that Carranza and villa
will give the legislative relief that Il
necessary when they finally have tri
umphed.
The Washington Government Is fgu-.
ing on holding the power recognition
over the successor to Huerta as a club FOR
forcing action on what the President ant
his advisers regard as the basis of all the
! Mexican difficulties.
tho revolutionary conditions In Mexico
are based almost entirely upon the dis
content growing out OF the present condi
tons OF serfdom and this movement vii
continue TO grow no matter what faction
Is In power or how strong II Is until fun
damental relief Is afforded.
| How far this fundamental question OF
change in Mexcos system of landown.
ership will enter into the proposals by the
American representatives at Niagara
Falls is uncertain. The likelihood is that
no effort will be made TO discuss the sub
ject there. for 1t would be futile. The
more likely course will be for the United
States TO exercise the power which II
Yields through a recognition of any Gov
eminent at Mexico city TO bring abou,
the reform.
Delegates Not Huerta Men.
| II is pointed out that Mt least two OF
/ Huerta's delegates ut Niagara Falls are
in fact representatives not Of the Mexican
dictator but of the landed aristocracy In
Mexico. This, II is asserted. is the plain
meaning OF the statements that have beer
made repeatedly that two OF the delegates
are not Huerta men at all but represent
the Mexican people.
The belief is already expressed In some
Administration circles that these tvs
members are in reality appearing on the
commission to represent the system which
Huerta typifies and that their duty will be
10 see that no settlement is made which
VIII disturb the present system Of land
proprietorship in Mexico.
1t was learned definitely to-day tina,
the United States now regards the Diff.
having passed completely beyond a stag.
where a settlement OF the Tamplco fias
incident will satisfy this Government. II
Huertas delegates are merely conte~'
plating a settlement of this phase of the
situation the proceedings at Niagara Falls
will fail.
The Mexican commissioners who reached
Washington yesterday afternoon left al
8 o'clock to-day for New York city. They
declined to accept a private car offered
by the State Department and made theiI
own arrangements. The Spanish Ambas
sador and members Of his family bade
| them farewell NJ the Union StatloH anu
presented large bouquet OF roses tied
with the Spanish colors. This was for the
women members Of the party.
The Mexican commissioners left the
national capital without having droppet
a hint OF the character OF the proposals
or concessions that they will mako In this
coming conferences. The Latin American
is by nature clever diplomat and tn.
Mexican representatives thus far have
lived up TO that reputation Efforts thai
have been made in Washington 10 ascer'
tain by roundabout methods the detailed
character OF the instructions carried b,
the Mexican commissioners have failed
Representatives of European Governments
in washington have been anxious to OBJ
tain a hint which they might send to thelr
Governments, but the Mexican representa-
tives left them empty handed when they
packed their bags and started for New
| York.
| nn rFN arm PE &C r ON