The Washington herald., 1915-08-27
CARRANzA BASES
HOPES ON ARMS
Delay in Answering Peace
Note Construed as Inten-
ton to Await Progress.
OFFICIALS ARE AMAZED
First Chief Asks Latin-American Dip
lomats Whether They Were
Authorized to Act.

That First Chief Carranza intends to
proceed with great deliberation in franz
ing reply to the Latin-American pro-
posal that he assist in the restoration Of
order in Mexico by entering a peace con-
vention with the other factional leaders
Is indicated In an announcemnt made
last night at the Carranza agency that
Carranza has instituted inquiries to de-
termine whether the representatives Of
the seven signatories were empowered
to act by their respective governments.
This is taken to mean that the first
i chief Is playing for time in the hope
that within the near future his present
military movement will result in the ut
| ter defeat Of his enemy. BY direction
or Carranza all the military leaders of
the constitutionalists are pushing ener-
| getic campaigns in the north of Mexico,
| where Gen. Villa has a foothold, and the
hrst chief appears to be confident of
| the success Of these movements. The
| first chief. according to advices received
4 at the Carranza agency, is confident that
within short time he will be able to
| demonstrate by conquest that his gov
| ernment should be recognized by the
United States and the other powers
Carranxa's Spunk Admired.
Latin-American diplomats in Washing
ton are disposed to admire the boldness
| exhibited by Carranza in addressing in
quiries to Mr.. Lansing. who acted for
the United States, and to the diplomatic
representatives of Argentine Brazil.
Chile, Bolivia, and Uruguay, asking II
they entered the conference in their in
dividual capacity or a S the Official spokes-
men OF the governments named. Accord
tn
Carranza agency a copy of the interroga-
tory addressed to Secretary of State
Lansing was handed to Consul John r.
Siii1man at Vera Cruz, with the request
that he forward it to Washington with
out delay. CarranZa Acknowledges the
! receipts Of the pan-American note and
tnen bluntly asks whether 1t was initi-
ated informally or by express author
ity OF the governments concerned.
In the pan-American note sent forward
under date of August II. the suggestion
was made that responses would be ex
pected ten days after the date of de-
livery to all of the Mexican leaders. The
ten-day limit has expired SO far as Car
rama is concerned, and he apparently
is determined to withhold his response
for several days to come 1t was said
at the State Department Yesterday that
as the note had to be dispatched by
courier to leaders located in remote sec
lions in the interior Of Mexico. the ten
day Limitation was not yet effective.
Conflicting Reports Made,
Conflicting reports have been made
public by the two Mexican juntas in
Washington relative to the outcome of
recent battles between the contending
FORCES south of the border The VII
listas claim that they are winning RICH,
along. The Carranzistas insist that they
are gaining victories and that the fight |
VIII be all over In a short time. The
Carranza agency recently put forth the |
claim that its forces are now in posses-
sion of Durango. Advices received at |
the State Department are to the effect |
that this town has been retaken by n |
Villa army.
State Department advices from Mexico !
were summarized yesterday as follows:
John r. Silliman telegraphs the de-
partment that mail for Mexico City
should be routed via Vera Cruz. In this |
connection the department wishes to an
nounce that it cannot hereafter under |
take to forward private letters in the !
diplomatic pouch to its representative at |
Mexico City. Advices from Tampico and !,
Vera Cruz state that quiet prevails at |
these places Reports from the west |
coast of Mexico indicate no change in |
conditions there except that the food sit |
uation at Acapulco Is serious. Accord
ing to a report from Guaymas. fifty
Americans and other foreigners desire to |
leave Hermosfllo for the United States |
AS there is no train service from Her. |,
mosillo north. they will have to depart |
via Guaymas."
The British and Argentine ambassadors
yesterday had conferences with Secre-
tary Lansing. 1t is understood that they
called merely to ascertain actual condi- !