The Washington herald., 1914-04-21
ACTIVITIES
At White HOUSE
Mexican Crisis eliminates
Rapidly Into Action by
Congress.
FULL CABINET MEETING
President. Immediately on Return to
Capital. Takes Huerta Sit
uation in Hand.

Soon after his arrival in Washington
from White Sulphur Springs. W. Va,
yesterday morning. President Wilson
went into conference with Secretary of
State Bryan. who laid before him all
Of the correspondence received from
Mexico City since Saturday night
One Of the Presidents early visitors
was Senator Shively. OF the Senate Com
mittee on Foreign Relations The Presi-
dent was assured then that Congress
stood ready almost to a man to support
a resolution giving him discretionary
powers for Using the military forces
Senator Shively had hardly left the
White House when the President sent
word to the big gathering of Washing
ton correspondents who were waiting in
the executive offices that he would re-
ceivc them.
Does Not Desire War.
Il want to say to you gentlemen" were
the Presidents first words do not get
the impression that there is about to be
war between the United States and
Mexico. That isn't the outlook at pres
ent at ALL
In the first place. in no conceivable
OF Mexico. We are their friend and We
want to help them in every way that we
can to recover their rights and their
government and their laws: and for the
present ! am going to Congress to pre-
sent a special situation and seek their
approval to meet that special situation.
1T is only an issue between this gov
ernment and a person calling himself the
Provisional President of Mexico. whose
recognized in any way. So that l had a
feeling of uneasiness as l read the papers
this morning. as II the country were get
ting on fire with war enthusiasm.
Il have no enthusiasm for war; I have
an enthusiasm for justice and for the
dignity OF the United States. but not for
war. And this need not eventuate into
war II We handle it with firmness and
promptness."
Hopes for Dictator's Removal.
For the first time the President dis
closed that he hopes also through the
drastic measures to be taken against
Huerta to accelerate the removal of the
dictator from power at Mexico City. His
declaration of several months ago
'Huerta must go''-was recalled as he
frankly expressed the hope that one re-
suit of the forthcoming action by the
United States will be the regaining by
the Mexican people of the sovereignty
of which the dictator has deprived them.
1t was Indicated by the President that
the United States will not be satisfied
now merely with the firing of the ma
tional salute at Tampico, but will insist
upon guarantee that there will be no
more acts of disrespect such as the Tam
pico arrests.
Defending his determination not to de- !
clare war against Huerta. the President
recalled that there were several instances |
where governments. including the United |
States, had begun operations against |
governments without the |
formal declaration OF hostilities One in |
stance cited was the ''wiping OUT OF !
Greytown, Nicaragua, by the United !
States. That town was taken and the !
operations against the Nicaraguans car |
ried still further without war ever being |
declared. In many cases cuStom-houses |
had been seized for debt and ports had /
been invested by measures short OF
war"
The President. in conversation in the |
course of the morning with his advisers, |
laid emphasis on the wording of a tele- |
gram which Huerta sent to President |
Taft on February Is, 1913 Later the |
message was made public at the White |
House. II read:
Il have the honor to report that / have |
overthrown the government: the forces
are with me, and hence:Orth peace and .
will reign
The President took the stand that the |
message described with accuracy just |
what Huerta had done in assuming office: |
he had overthrown the government and |
as yet no constitutional government has |
been established in Mexico City.
Full Cabinet Meeting.
The Cabinet met at 1890 o'clock with |
a full membership present The Presi-
dent read his message and discussed the |
of the last two paragraphs, |
in which he set forth his desire for the
Of Congress for the utilization !
by him of the army and navy against |
'Huerta and his adherents' in such man.
ner as might be necessary. The President l
sketched the general plans Of military
operations which had been worked out.
The Cabinet approved unanimously of his
message and of the military plans. No
member would discuss these plans after
adjournment.
Secretary Bryan laid before the Cabinet
he text OF translation of Huerta's re-
ply to OShaughnessy. which had been