The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1914-06-17
CANCELS BLOCKADE
HUERTA RECALLS ORDER AIMED
AGAINST TAMPICO PORT.
DISPELS War CLOUDS

Course Through Efforts Of State
Depart,nent-No Official State
ment.
Gen. Euerta's order Monday, sus-
pending the order to blockade Tam
pico against the delivery of arms by
the steamer Antilla to the Constitu-
tionalists, served to dispel apprehen-
sion over a new crisis between the
United States and the Huerta govern
ment, which had threatened media
ton Of Mexican affairs.
Though Washington officials ex-
pressed satisfaction over Huerta's &C
ton, it was persistently suggested,
unoficially. that the blockade had
been suspended only conditionally as
a result Of conferences between the
South American mediators and the
Mexican and American delegates at
Niagara Falls. It also was said that
the Antilla might be ayerted IN her
course through an agreement with
officials of the Ward Line, her own
ers. and an American corporation.
President Wilson, Secretary Bryan
and Secretary Daniels gave evidence
Of great relief over the late develop
ments, which temporarily, at least,
have ayerted another clash at arms.
From no official source could con-
frmation be procured of the reports
that Huerta had an understanding
with the mediators or the United
States, which would assure that the
Antilla's cargo would not be deliver
ed. Meanwhile nothing has been
heard from the Antilla, which is due
to arrive of Tampico Wednesday
Gorning.
Secretary Bryan was first informed
Of Hnerta's Suspension of the block
ade order by Mr.. Riano, the Spanish
ambassador, early in the day. The
secretary declined to discuss reports
from Niagara Falls that Gen. Huerta
merely had suspended his blockade
order at the request Of the South
American mediators, pending settle
ment of questions relating to an arm
1stice.
One important question said to
have been raised at Niagara Falls,
was whether the United States con-
strued the mediation agreement
to obHgate it to prevent arms enter
ing Tampico, which the Huerta gov
eminent had declared closed. # the
United States did so construe, the
cessation Of hostilities, which, it was
assumed, would be held inyiolate, the
mediators are said to have wanted to
know whether this government would
consider it a breach of faith should
Huerta's gunboats attempt to stop
the Antilla,s cargo of ammunition for
Carranza's forces.
Such questions, it is declared, were
put up to Secretary Bryan from Ma
CARA Falls, and Huerta was asked to
suspend the blockade order until the
subject should be cleared up. 1t
could not be learned whether any re-
ply to such proposals had been made.
The Mexican gun5oats 2aragoza
and Bravo, followed from Puerto
Mexico by the. American cruiser Taco
ma and gunboat Sacramento, reach
ed Tampico early Monday. The Mex
lean boats anchored in the Panuco
River, some distance from Tampico,
and Admiral Mayo conferred with
their commanders. It was believed
the order suspending the blockade
had not reached Tampico when the
conference was held. Navy depart
ment heads assumed that Admiral
feers the extent of their authority
Mayo discussed with the Mexican Of
and nature of their orders, and that
he might have endeaVored to dis
suade them from interference with
commerce at Tampico.
Secretary Daniels would not dis
cuss the future coJr,e of the steamer
Aptilla. Department heads still main
tanned, however, that there had been
no order to Admiral Badger since
that of May Is, 1914, direct
ing that Tampico be kept open
. to commerce. Mr.. Daniels frankly
stated that the navy claimed no cred
1t for the diplomatic manoeuEres
which resulted in the blockade sus-
pension.
Some department officials argued
that although the Antilla flies the
Cuban flag, her American owners still
were amena5le to American customs
and shipping laws and that there
was every reason to believe that
company would be prepared to give
respectful consideration to hints
from the State department that it |
would prefer it not to land ammuni-
tor from the shores Of the United |
States at Tampico.
At the state department it was
pointed out that the record thus far
would show that the administration
had been acting with exact neutrality |
as between the Federals and Consti- |
tutiona1ists.
The general belief is that the
mediation outlook is more hopeful in |
view of Huerta's present attitude |
and there are many who believe Gen.
Carranza's answer to the recent note
Of the South American me6iators will
pave the way for reception Of his
delegates to the peace conference.
Some of Carranza's friends still in
sist there will be no agreement to
cessation Of hostilities in the Mexi-
can internal conflict.
Conditions on the west coast of
Mexico, already bad for Huerta, are
becoming worse daily, according to