The Washington herald., 1914-04-18

His second inquiry was whether thu
United States would fire a salute stimuli
taneously with the salute OF the apology
O'Shaughnessy Immediately communi
Gated Huerta's inquiries to Secretary oi
State Bryan, and they were considered
by President Wilson and his advisers
The President consulted authorities oi
the Navy Department and of the Depart
ment of State as to precedents, and de-
cided that the salute should be returned
No serious consideration was given the
inquiry as to whether simultaneous
salute would be fired. because the Presi-
dent was told by his advisers that nc
precedent for such a proceeding existed
in the annals OF international amendes
honorables.
. At o'clock Thursday Secretary Bryan
sent a message to O'Shaughnessy that
the United States would return the salute,
but would not consider firing one stimuli
taneously with that demanded from
Huerta. He was asked to get an immedi-
ate reply from Huerta-
Make, Flat Refusal.
Following the dispatch of this message
to Huerta. President Wilson said that the
administration was encouraged, and gem
orally indicated confidence that the mat
ter would be adjusted. but the Presidents
knowledge Of Huerta's character was too
keen to permit him to make any state
ment more definite than that he was en-
couraged. Secretary Bryan permitted his
optimism to lead him into more positive
statements as to the results that had
been obtained from the negotiations.
At 10 o'clock yesterday morning, Wash
ington officials who intuitively had lost
something OF the optimism by which
they were animated Thursday night,
heard that Secretary Bryan had received
another message from O'Shaughnessy-
Before this message had been de-coded,
the rumor ran about the White House
that Secretary Bryan had received bad
news. The Cabinet was assembling as
Mr.. Bryan laid the message before the
President. The President was astounded
when he saw that Huerta had had as
surance to reiterate his insolent inquiry
as to a simultaneous salute No time
was consumed by the President in dis
cussing the answer to be made. In a
few minutes after O'Shaughnessy's mes
sage had been read. Secretary bryan left
the Cabinet, meeting 20 send another
message to O'Shaughnessy.
In this message 1t was set forth. in the
terms OF an ultimatum, the fact that the
United States insists upon the letter Of
the original demand of Admiral lIayo.
and that 1t will be intolerant Of further
dallying.
situation still "Encouragfng."
A person who is authorized to speak
for the President announced that the
President still regarded the situation as
encouraging. although a difficulty had
been encountered. 1t was not until well
into the afternoon that official admis-
sion was made of the fact that Huerta
had reiterated his inquiry as to stimuli
taneous salute.
Secretary Daniels yesterday said that
when Huertas inquiry as to the return
OF the salute by the United States was
received Thursday, he was requested by
the President to furnish an opinion as to
the propriety of such action. The Secre-
tary. not being personally familiar with
practices in this matter, was
inclined to advise against the returning
of the salute. He took what he described
as LAND ubber's view of the matter.
and thought that for the United States
TO agree to return a salute would indi-
cate a compromising attitude. The Sec
retary referred the question to the geI-
eTdl OF the navy WIN ucNluNd
that in every case where a
salute is rendered, II must be returned.
Precedent Is shown.
A precedent of recent date which was
brought to the Secretary's attention was
that OF several weeks ago, when the
Mexican gunboat Zaragoza came into the
harbor at New Orleans and saluted the
American flag above the fort there. The
skns 1,
United States never had recognized the
Mexican government. did not Immediately
return the salute. He wired to the War
Department for instructions. The War
Department consulted the Navy Depart
ment as to the course to be pursued, and
a decision of the general board of the
navy at that time was that the salute
should be returned. Following this opin-
ion, the salute of the Zaragoza was ac-
by twenty-one guns from the
fort at New Orleans.
Secretary Daniels said that the dis
tinction that should be kept in mind in
this subject was that the
United States will in returning the salute
and not merely the colors OF the
de facto government of that nation.
Secretary Daniels took notice of navy
regulation, No 1S4. which provides that
no American ship shall salute the flag
Of nation not recognized by the United
States. The Secretary said that Thurs
day he had referred the bearing of this
regulation upon the return of the salute
at Tampico to his aids, and that these
were unanimously OF the opinion that the
regulation did not apply to the return
Of salute such as has been demanded
Of Mexico.
More ships to Sail.
Secretary Daniels disclosed that the
third division of the Atlantic Fleet, in
cluding the Virginia. Connecticut, and
Ohio, now undergoing slight repairs in
dry dock, probably will go to Mexico
April 26 or q. The ships will not be
overhauled until that time, he said, and
so no order has been issued as-to their
movements yet.
Secretary Daniels said that no addi-
tional ships of the Pacific Fleet had
been ordered to the West coast of Mex.
leo. other than the seven ordered to re-
enforce Admiral Howard at Mazatlan.
Acapulco and Topolobampo on Wednes-
day. Secretary Bryan, when he saw the
newspaper correspondents yesterday aft
ernoon, refused to discuss in detail the
with the Mexican govern
ment to date.
Secretary Bryan, in response to an in