Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1914-04-03
Much Interest Attached
to Return of Wilson's
Representative to y. S
BY Associated Press

nOunCement Oh lfle prospective uS-
parture for the United States of John
Lind, President Wilson's personal rep
resentative in Mexico. revived interest
to-day in the future trend of the
Washington governments policy toward
the southern republic.
For the last few weeks officials have
pointed to the battle of Torreon as
likely to furnish an index of the
future, but the result as we'll as it,
effects on the military or diplomatic
situation as respects the strength OF
the two factions is still a matter OF
some uncertainty here.
While the President has said Mr.
Lind would return to Vera Cruz after
he had obtained n rest and vacation
in the United States. many observers
think he never will go back, as there
has been a disposition for many weeks
on the part of the Washington gov.
activity while the military forces ot
the Constitutionalists and federals
struggled for supremacy. The pros
pect of even more vigorous warfare
and the unwillingneSs of either faction
to accept any proposals for compro-
mise or mediation has caused the
American government to assume an
attitude of strict neutrality. That this
position will be continued indefinitely
is probable unless injury to foreigners
or some other unlooked'f for emergency
causes embarrassment.
Two Cases Forgotten
In the attention that has been con-
centrated on the battle of Torreon the
Benton and Vergara cases have beer
practically lost sight of, but there is
every indication that with the battle
over and when another readjustment
of military forces enSues further in
formation will be sought from both
the ConStitutionaliStS and the federal
chiefs as to the course they intend tC
pursue in satisfaction of injuries in
ilicted upon foreigners by their SUBJ
ordinates.
In the meantime the presence neal
at hand of Mr.. Lind will be valuable
because of his familiarity with con-
ditions and leaders in Mexico. 1t is
recognized that the decisive battle al
Torreon or some other strategic point
in Central Mexico may bring about q
situation in Mexico City where q per-
sonal representative of the President
might be of assistance in composing
the situation.
Hale is in Europe
Just what Mr.. Lind might do while
in the United States after he has
rested is causing a good deal of specu.
lation, the suggestion being advanced
in some quarters that perhaps he
might make o trip to observe con
ditions in Constitutionalist territory
where General Carranza is in control
For some time William Bayard Hale
had advised the President to a large
extent about the Constitutionalists, bu
his health failed him recently and ht
went to Europe to recuperate.
Administration officials are emphatic
in their declaration that Mr.. Lind's
movements at present mean no change
in the American policy. Charge
O'Shaughnessy will continue at Mexico
City to conduct any routine business
that may arise with the Huerta gov
ernment In none of Mr.. O'Shaugh'
nessys transactions, however, it Is
pointed out here, is formal recognition
involved, the policy of the Washington
government being to deal with au.
thoritieS in de facto control.
Reference by General Huerta in his
message to the Mexican congress
Wednesday to the action of the United
States government in connection with
the proposed reassembling Of The
the view of officials here, any rec.
ognition to the Huerta government.
Refers TO Conference
General Huerta had said in his mes,
sage:
"The United States has been SO good
as to invite me. through his Excel.
lency President Wilson, to organize in
common accord the preparatory worl
for the approaching peace conference
at The Hague"
The explanation of the statement /:
found in the fact that last February
with the purpose of removing what
appeared to be a formidable though
purely technical obstacle to the carry.
ing out of the original plan for the
reassembling of The Hague conference
this year. Secretary Bryan sent a note
to the American diplomatic officers In
every country which was a party tc
the original Hague conference sug.
gesting that their governments desig.
nate the administrative council of the
permanent court of arbitration at The
Hague as members of special com.
mittee to arrange the progrom for the
third conference.
This note was printed and a CODY
was sent to Nelson O'Shaughnessy
the American charge at the Mexican
capital, who in the ordinary and rou.
tine way delivered it to the Mexican
foreign office.