The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-08
DEVELOPMENTS IN MEXICAN SITUATION
 PROCEED STEADILY
tContinued From Page One,


 not be formulated until negotiations Al, Niagara Falls shall have produced a basis of information and an exchange of views between the mediators and the delegates. and until everything to be presented by delegates of both sides shall have been fully considered and sifted.
 In this connection it was pointed ont here today that there seemed to be Il mistaken idea that tile mediation pro- ceedings were in the nature of an in ternational conference. to be followed by the signing of a protocol. whereas the efforts of the mediators will be advisory and not arbitratory The ns- gotiations in Niagara Falls. il WAS ex- plained, will be to work out u plan acceptable 10 all parties.
 There Is no disposition, 1t was sai1 to regard the advance of the constitu- uonalist forces as an imminent dan ger, the mediators being inclined. ac- eordlng To reliable information. to be- lieve that they have ample time 10 make definite progress with their medi- alton proceedings before any develop ments could interfere with their ef- forts.
 The administration is keeping It's own councils as to mediation This has given rise to two conflicting views one that President Wilson and his advisers look forward confidently to the success of mediation. the other that official Wash lngton has lost hope In mediation and Is viewing the Niagara Falls conference largely as academic So far as can be learned, In the absence of an author itative statement. neither of these views Is quite correct.
 The policy of silence has been due. high officials declare, to a desire 10 avoid any thing open to possible construction as be- ing an effort to influence the mediators. Those within the administration councils say all the most responsible officials sin cerely dssire that mediation succeed.
 Although seeing in mediation a chance Of relieving the administration from one of it's heaviest burdens, officials do not propose, it is said, to let give-and-take of mediation lead to the waiver of anything considered essential to the maintenance of American honor and rights.
 Reports during the day showed that while American refugees continued their exodus from Mexico City and the south, conditions in northern Mexico had so im- proved that Americans felt justified in venturing back to reopen their mines The American consulate at Cananea, Sonora was reopened by Consular Agent Mon taeue. Plans for the return of British and American operatives to the Tampco oil fields were interfered with by an unexpect-
 
 CT that no foreigners could land so long as warships remained at Tampico. Both tederals and constitutionalists earlier had invited the oil men to return under prom ises of protection and General Huerta ae- cording to information reaching the state department today, had issued an order to federal officials in the Tampico district to this effect. Messages passing through the state department indicated that the Tanpico oil properties are well cared for.
 delegation of representatives of Amer ican oil interests at Tampico who have just returned to the United States called at the navy department today and told Secretary Daniels that the United States should police Mexico and permit the re- sumption of oil operations. Later they saw the President. Secretary Daniels told his visitors they ought to be thankful they had escaped with their lives.
 Representatives of oil interests told Sec retary Bryan that because of their en- forced absence from Mexico title to their leases is being transferred to rivals This Is understood to mean that British conces- sionaries are the beneficiaries. 1t Is un- derstood these titles are being transferred in Mexico City and some Americans claim they face financial ruin in consequence The story was current in some quarters that British contributors to a fund for General Huerta being deposited in Paris were among those to whom title to Amer ican holdings is being transferred in the Mexican capital.