Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-06
MISUNDERSTANDING
PEACE CONFERENCE
Capt. Sherburne G. Hopkins,
interviewed for First Time,
Analyses Conditions.
PERSONAL INVESTIGATION
JUST MADE BY EXPERT
Thinks It Would Be Premature to
Grant Recognition Now to Either
villa or Carranxa.

That Mexicans along the border ia
vor q general conference with a view
to establishing q civil government ca
pable Of enforcing the law and AFFORD
ing protection to life and property is
the opinion Of a washingtonian. Capt
Sherburne 6. Hopkins. who has re-
turned from q trip to Mexican frontier
points. bringing with him. incidentally.
the Information that Diax Lombardo.
Villas minister of foreign affairs. will
arrive in Washington Saturday to pre-
sent the case of the Villa faction to
Secretary Lansing at the State Depart
ment
Capt Hopkins has long been associ-
ated with Mexican affairs. having been
Madero's diplomatic adviser in Washing
ton during the successful revolution OF
1911, after which he remained in Mexico
for several months. assisting in the or
ganfzation Of the Madero government. He
for direct quotation by newspaper men.
many OF whom have relied upon him as
a source Of information.
Sentiment Of All Mexicans.
Celebrating the idea that the Mexi-
can people really want a general con-
ference. out Of which peace may come.
Capt. Hopkins said today that the SEN
timent of all Mexicans with whom he
talked during his trip was strongly ex-
pressed in favor Of that idea.
II include" Capt. Hopkins said. not
alone members Of the so-called Villa
all factions. All want to see strong
central government. set up along con-
stitutional lines. which will respect
the law and the guarantees afforded by
When the struggle OF carranza was
launched against the Huerta dictator
ship. Capt. Hopkins became the con-
fidential adviser here of the so-called
accompanied him for a considerable
time prior to his triumphant entry in
to Mexico City. Upon the establish
ment of the so-called convention gov.
eminent, now led by Villa. and adhered
dered his resignation. Capt. Hopkins
became the counselor Of the conf
Dental agency of the convention gov
eminent in Washington.
The Mexican people" Capt. Hopkins
said, ARE tired of war and It's hard
ships. and they argue that the revolu-
ton against Huerta having triumphed
in July. 1914. with the downfall Of
Huerta. the constitutional order should
accordance with the revolutionary pro-
gram and popular elections called for
q new congress to give effect to the
reforms SO urgently needed throughout
the country. This not only represents
the general idea Of the civilian popula-
ton. but 1t also reflects the views pri-
vately entertained by most of the
troops in the field Of both Villa and
Carranza, who cannot quite under
stand why they should be fighting be-
he adv0CQt
Identical principles.
Carranza Wronging Mexicans.
while I hold Carranza in high es-
TEEN, I am convinced that his unwill-
ingness to discuss terms of compromise
with the leaders of the opposition is
doing a great wrong to the Mexican
people.
"As for Gen. villa and his military
chiefs, I am assured that they are
quite willing to retire at any moment
should Carranza signify a purpose to
do the same. thus allowing the i'm
mediate establishment Of civil govern
ment and the return to constitutional
methods
lied with the reactionary element
that is to say. the former supporters OF
Huerta--has no foundation In fact in
asmuch as all the factions favoring
revolutionary principles and reforms
would not for a moment think of &C
cepting the cooperation of this ele-
ment, notwithstanding the fact that
they represent some of the great land
ed and financial interests in Mexico.
Any government established must be
otherwise 1t would at once lack con-
fidence on the part of the people.
Must Eliminate Military.
"All that Mexico needs is the elimina-
ton of military domination or. should
say, the subordination of the military
element to control by the civil author
tiles On the border I found this senti-
ment prevalent everywhere. particular
ly in the territory controlled by Gen.
Villa, whose purpose I understand 1T
to be is to establish in the near future
de facto civil government in the states
of the Pacific coast. to which he is now
sending a very substantial force.
I'm regard to recognition. my per-
sonal opinion is that 1t would be pre-
mature at this time to grant recognt-
ton to either the factions of Carranza
or villa. since neither permanently
controls sufficient territory nor pos
sesses those elements of civil admin
istration so essential to recognition OF
a de facto government. Besides. the
opposing factions are so evenly bal
anced that to recognize one to the ex-
clusion of the other might be produc-
tive of great i'll in one way or an
other.
Benevolent Policy Of. United States.
Therefore, am inclined to believe
that the benevolent policy Of the Unit
ed States in suggesting conferences
between the factions should be con-
tinued. inasmuch as public opinion will
In, Yoba 6aH