South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-05-20
BY LAWRENCE TOD.


MEDIATION HEADQUARTERS
Clifton Hotel. Niagara Falls, ont.
May 2O.-The mediation conference 10
settle the Eouble between the Mexican
and Unitsd States governments was
opened here this afternoon Minister
Suarez. OF Chile, had not yet arrived,
but il was decided TO organize in his
absence The American commission
ers. Justice Lamar and Frederick w.
Lehman. in fun official uniform, ar
rived at the conference room prompt
Iv at s O'Clock. 10 find the Mexican
delegates already in their ante cham
Der adjoining the conference room.
Minister NaOn of Argentina. who
has been here for several days. agreed
with Senior DaGama that the out
look was encouraging. They said
they hoped for an early agreement
and the prompt acceptance Of the
views OF the conference by the gov
ernments involved.
The arrival Of Senior Suarez. the
Chilean minister. was delayed. Mean
while the American delegates. Justice
r. Lamar and Frederick Lehman,
rested quietly at their hotel on the
a American side OF Niagara river
Mexicans Are Reticent
The Mexican commissioners, Senor
Rodriguez and SenOr ElguerO. who
reached the city early today, were
reticent. They conferred with their
COuntrymen, lncludlnS IoIihei
Charge d'Affaires Algara. who rose
early 10 welcome them. and with
Consul Pablo Tonic. OF Toronto. but
declared they had nothing TO say
10 the press" until mediation confer
euces had actually begun. The first
words in the play were left to the
South American mediators.
Some indication OF the probable
length OF the conference was had
from the fact that the Argentine
minister negotiated for a months
lease of motor car. In Mexican
official quarters this news was un-
welcome. The American delegates
smiled. The interests of the United
States are considered furthered by
every possible delay
Through al the whispered confer
ences about the headquarters ran one
insistent question:
viii Huerta retire and what will
the Mexican delegates answer 10 the
new proposal of the United States
that the poems Of Mexico Will be Civ
en- the land VIII they first reject
and then agree TO consider the land
proposition or Will they offer a
pledge OF the abdiCation of General
Huerta as an alternative 10 breaking
up the great estates
May Refuse TO Discuss Land.
Opinion inclined toward the belief
discuss the land question They are
anxious for haste in the settlement
Of their quarrel with the United
states government. but IL is under
stood they regard the land policy as
q purely democratic matter with
which none but conqueror may In
terfere. The diplomats Of the three
south American powers. determined
% bring their plan OF a peaceful
compact TO success, are. nevertheless
Watching the progress OF the consti-
tutionalist army i'm Mexico with
resignation They hope chiefly to get
action here I'm time 90 be Of assist
anCe in making future civil conflict
in the southern republic impossible.
To was decided by Ambassa dor Da-
Cana and Minister NaOn that infOr-
nal discussion should precede the
presentation OF formal proposals up
on each point which shall be raised
in the conference.
derstood To desire the issue involving
the elimination of Gen. Huerta
should De taken up first but the
Mexican deleEStes were opposed 90
such program desiring that all the
points In the dispute be canva ssed be- I
fore the question OF Huerta's status
he decided.
To Prepare Written Records.
AS each formal step Is taken up the
secretaries VIII draw up written
memoranda Of what has trauspired
and these records viii be signed. The
field viii thus hc kept clear 0f mis-
CONTINUED ON PAGE FOUR)