The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1914-05-18
BY WIN. NELSON TAFT.
Staff Correspondent of the Interna
tionaI News Service at the
White House.


WASHINGTON, May 1S.-Frederick
W. Lehman and Justice Joseph r.
Lamar, delegates of the United States
to the mediation conference at Niagara
Falls, Ont, received their final in
structions today preparatory for their
departure from the capital.
With General Huerta's delegates
now in New York and the South
American mediators on their way to
Niagara Falls, mediation in the Mex
ican troubles was a step nearer reality
today.
The Niagara Falls conferences
which open Wednesday, took on new
Significance when it was intimated by
persons close to the President that he
aims to pacify the whole of Mexico
with the aid Of the mediators. The
chief executive is said to believe that
the present negotiations can settle
Mexico's troubles for all time by
bringing the Zapata, Carranza and
Huerta factions into agreement, fol
lowing the ousting of Huerta.
Reform Land System.
Reform of the present land holding
system, which the president believes
to be responsible for the warfare in
Mexico, also is said to be one of the
chief desires of the president and it
is understood in official circles here
that recognition of the Constitution
alists, should they force out the
Huerta regime, would be withheld un-
til such reform is established by the
new government.
The president, it has become known,
IS pinning his hope to the mediation
with the idea that the United States
can force peace by keeping the army
in Vera Cruz within striking distance
of disturber.
Meanwhile the army and navy, chat.
ing under the state departments avoid
ance of anything which might look like
aggression" is straining at the leash
and they are likely to continue sc
throughout the mediation. This is in
line with the state departments avow
ed policy of avoiding the placing o1
any possible obstruction in the path
of mediation. through intensely
anxious over the fate of Consul John
R. Silliman, private Samuel Parks and
Edward D. Doster, correspondent o1
the International News Service.
Hopes Villa Will Win.
The administration is hoping that
Villa will win through to Mexico City
and gather the people about him with
strength enough to insure the stability
of the revolutionists government
Thus the United States could wait al
Vera Cruz. while Villa deposed the
tdtctator and set up a new regime
This regime would have assured the
land and other reforms demanded by
this government and guarantee the
payment Of the claims of the United
States before the troops will be with
drawn from Vera Cruz.
That is the government proposes tc
hold over the Constitutionalst's heaC
the favor Of its recognition as a prize
to be won by immense changes in the
land distribution promised by Maderc
and Carranza alike. If withholding OF
recognition is not of itself sufficient
there will still remain the possibility
of the use of the American forces tc
establish peace and guarantee an END
to the civil strife in the southern re
public.
The land question must be solved
by action. not by promises Until the
poems are back on the sail, and have
q chance of owning the acres they
cultivate, there will be neither safety
for Americans in Mexico nor cessation
of war; 1t is believed here.