New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-05-16
The Scope and Effects of Mediator
Are Still Highly Uncertain.

The opentng Of the Niagara Falls conference mas
,s.r rostnoned for a couple of days. To those WHO
expect substantial results from the media''on NV"
IN prospect that postponement must seem unioi''
nste since every days delay will probably d,n'n-
fish the Importance of any agreement "nlch i"o'
bs made between the United States and the Huer'a
government II Huertas rule is upset WINE 'he
conference celebrates the results OF the meuauo"
will be negligible. The real settlement OF the MeAi
can nroblem will have TO be taken up WIFI 'no
consttttonalists and the Southern factionists VINO
supplant Huerta.
The public has gotten the idea that the coni''
snce at Niagara Falls IS empowered to overstep tne
limitations of the technical controversy between
Huerta and the United States and to attempt u
daal with the whole question Of internal disorder
ond IocL ~ RESPONSIBLE government in Mexico
That has been taken for granted In ths country
although there Is nothing but the vaguest hint OH
record that the Wilson administration Will oemand
such an enlargement Of the scope OF mediation. IL
&c somewhat disconcertng. therefore, to learn that
the Mexican delegates now on their way to Canada
consider It their duty merely to discuss the actuai
Diplomatic break between the President ana zen
eral Huerta over the Withholding of full reparatlon
for the insult 10 the American flag and uniform at
Tampico.
In dispatch from Key West sefor Rodriguez
one Of the ENJOYS, is reported as saying
We 60 with the intention of only settling the for
oign conflict, and in manner intend touching upon
the interior 1t is only in the exterior propieil
anyway, in which the c medators nave inter-
Nened.
In cable from Havana Senior Rodriguez is thus
quoted to the same effect:
We have ample authority to save our country's
honor and to adjust countrys foreign differences
We will not treat of the revolution, nor with Car
rama delegates. because Caranza said ne Wouli not
send delegates to the conference.
It is certainly within the diplomatic rights of the
Mexican ENJOYS to insist that foreign board OF
mediation shall conne itself to settling outstanding
international differences between the United States
and the Huerta administration. The only difficulty
Of record is the ultimatum about salute, failure
to comply with the terms of which caused the
United States to seize Vera Cruz. Mr.. Wilson made
an informal demand Huerta last summer that
he retire from the provisional Presidency and emi-
nate himself as a candidate for election Presi-
dent. But that demand not in the nature of
an ultimatum and was not intended to be backed
up by military action.
1t has been the great fault of the administrations
diplomacy in Mexico that it has not laid the basis
for a mediation of the proper scope. If anything
besides the salute issue IS taken up at Niagara Falls
il will not be because the way has been opened
for general settlement, but because the Mexican
ENJOYS are willing to waive their technical rights
on the ground that a discussion Of the internal
problem would be just now distinctly to Huerta's
advantage.
Mediation It stands is pig in poke No one
knows exactly what questions it will or what
fraction Of the Mexican people 1t will bind II It
results in anything substantial In its delightful
inde6niteness it is precisely in line with the whole
Mexican policy of the Wilson administration.