Evening journal., 1915-03-16
WASHINGTON WILL
PROTEST Cutting
OFF Of COMMERCE
Cabinet Delays Step in Eng
liSh Situation Until Notes
Are Answered
Mexican TURMOIL
IS GROWING QUIETER
by Holm EDWIN NEvIN.

United Press stan Correspondent
WASHINGTON, March 16-Indica-
tive of the seriousness of the situation
resulting from Great Britain's uncom-
promising attitude towards this gov
ernments foreign trade was Presi-
dent Wilson's action in refusing TO
discuss any phrase of the matter to-
day. He took the ground that until
he and his cabinet we're in full pos
session of the facts, and had received
all the notes handed to Ambassador
Page by the British foreign Office, they
could not decide on their next step.
The President however, did not deny
that the strongest sort Of protest as
TO be made to Great Britain and that
this government will not allow its
foreign trade to he hampered and
even entirely cut off without demand
ing that England and France observe
their treaty obligations and respect
the rights the United States enjoys
under the ordinary application of in
ternational law.
The President made il plain that
while there will be no precipitate ac-
! ton. this nations rights will be jeal-
ously defended.
So far as the Mexican situation was
concerned the President told his call
/ ers that he considers the situation in
| less Of a ferment than il was. He eX-
planned he was fully convinced that
| John b. McManus murderers will be
adequately punished and full repair
alton will be made by Villa and Ia
pata Full details Of the circum-
| stances surrounding the Americans s
staying have been sent from Mexico
City by the Brazilian minister, who
is looking out for this governments S
interests and viii reach here the lat
ter part of the week.
i The President said that he consid-
cred foreigners were safer under the
i. Zapata rule now in force in Mexico
/, City than they we're under General
!, Obregon, the Carranzista commander
whom the State Department blamed
I for much OF the recent trouble in the
Mexican capital.
The food situation in Mexico CitJ
has materially improved the Presi.
! dent said and he explained that this
government is endeavoring to have
the Mexico City-Vera Cruz line kept
open, although there is natural diff
Guilty in the way because of the fact
that zapata controls I'm Mexico City
and Carranza in Vera Cruz.
So far as the situation growing
out Of the sinking of the sailing ship
Frye by the German cruiser Prin7
Eitel Friedrich is concerned, the
President explained that no definite
action has been taken because this
government is still without all of the
facts it desires TO utilize. in dealing
with the matter. The President SAID
the State Department has held severa
informal conferences with the German
ambassador on the matter and that il
was slowly adjusting itslf
Discussing today the reply which
he made last week to the inquiry
whether he had sent special pleni
potentiary to Wall Street to make
peace between the White House ant
, the business interests, the Presideni
said that in denying the report he haC
not supposed that a regularly ac
credited representative of the depart
ment was meant. Agents of that de
partment, he said, naturally call upoI
business men to explain the working.
of the department and represent il
J and not the President personally
{ That was the reason, the Presiden
said, that he had stated that no on,
was representing him in Wall Street