Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-05-29
To Serve Notice on Them That
Conditions in That Country
Are Intolerable.
DOES NOT MEAN RECOGNITION
Talk of Intervention, Dormant,
Since European War Began,
Strongly Revived.

III 'Hdl country nave be-
come intolerable. and that. unless they
themselves compose the situation soon,
some other means may have TO be
employed TO accomplish the result.
The first intimation Of the Presi-
dent taking this step came in an ap-
peal issued from the head OF the
American Red Cross setting forth that
several years of internal disturbances
IN many parts Of Mexico have reduced
the people to the verge of starvation"
ana urging contributions to relief
funds.
Later the White House gave out the
following:
When the Presidents appeal for aid
for the MeXicans was issued. Il was
also stated at the executive offices that
statement from the President on the
present situation in Mexico might be
expected within the next few days"
Ihis statement has been prepared.
and will be issued after the Cabinet
meeting next Tuesday. and then COM
municated to the leaders of all the
Mexican factions.
DENY THAT RECOGNITION
IS CONTEMPLATED
o'icials at the White House and
state Department declined to say what
the Presidents statement contained,
but denied that recognition OF any
faction was contemplated.
Inc present action, it was said was
10 demand. in effect. that the Mexicans
arrive at an early settlement Of their
troubles. or at least provide for the
sustenance of the starving population.
High officials referred to the Prcsi-
dents forthcoming announcement as
not meaning Immediate intervention"
me Impression in executive quarters
would be TO place responsibility for
the present state of affairs squarely on
the military elements in the republic.
which have overrun the country and
appropriated its food supply or pre-
vented the tillinE of the soil
While anxious to continue the policy
OF allowing the Mexicans to settle
their difficulties without outside inter-
ference. the President is said to he de-
termined that the civilian population of
the country shall not be starved in the
meantime.
TALK OF INTERVENTION
REVIVED By STATEMENT
Talk of intervention. which has been
dormant since the European war di-
verted attention from the situation
nearer home, was revived by the White
House statement. Many diplomatists.
VINO interpreted the days events as
the forerunner OF a new policy, thought
intervention was an inevitable out
come. and that the United States was
paving the way for IL by notifying the
world of its purpose TO take the stem
for the sake of humanity They
pointed out that a similar utterance
had preceded intervention in Cuba in
1885.
For the present il is understood the
notl1cation to all the Mexican factions
of the intolerable state of affairs. and
the desire OF the American government
Tor betterment of conditions. will be
allowed to stand without explanation,
while the relief work of the American
Red Cross is undertaken in earnest.
The belief was widespread In official
and diplomatic circles tonight that
an immediate effect of the forthcoming
statement will be TO give warming that
relief supplies must not be appro-
priated by the military factions, and
that they must assist in feeding the
starving populacc While the Presi-
dents statement will not state specif-
cally the alternative course, in the case
II is not needed, the general trend of
comment tonight indicated that the
United States, is first step in such a
contingency, would insist on Keeping
the railroad between Vera Cruz and
Mexico City open for the transporta-
tion of supplies. and might even de-
liver its supplies to the people In other
Mexican cities by governmental agen-
cies.
WILL TAKE SEVERAL WEEKS
TO WORK PLANS OUT
The governments plans. il is said,
Will take several weeks TO be worked
out, and they are not expected to come
to decisive point while the delicate
negotiations with Germany arc in
progress.
President Wilson declared on Tues
day, after his conference with DuVal
West. that he had decided on no
change In the Mexican policy. The
events of the last twenty four hours,
however-the seizure by Carranza au-
thorities of large quantities OF corn
purchased by the International Relief
Committee. and the inability OF the
authorities at Vera Cruz and Mexico
City to provide transportation for
supplies to succor the ever-incrcasing
bread line-brought about the deter
mination to act.
Officials fatty denied reports that
Great Britain. through her embassy
here, had been exerting pressure for
the relief of conditions in Mexico. 1t
was pointed out, however. that DuVal
West, after three months investiga-
tion of conditions in Mexico. was un-
derstood to have brought back in
formation tending TO show that none
of the leaders had sufficient capacity
to dominate the situation, and to have
suggested that the United States must
compel settlement.
The idea that by relieving dis
tressed conditions among the populace
the influence OF the United States Cow
ernment upon the warning factions
would increase. is said to have been
one OF Mr.. Vests arguments.
The great hope of the American gov
CONTINUED on Ninth Page.)