The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1915-04-03
PROPOSE MAKING
CAPITAL NEUTRAL
Villa zapata Forces Agree to Plan Of
v. S. Regarding Mexico and Car.
ranza's Aequieseeree is
Hoped for

Washington, April with the
hope of securing permanent protec
ton for the $4,000 foreigners in Mex.
leo City the United States govern
ment has proposed to the Villa Zap
alta forces and to General CarranLa
that the Mexican capital be declared
neutral and outside the field OF op
! erations hereafter in Mexico's civil
war.
The Villa zapata forces have
agreed to the proposal and are will
ing to eyacuate the city as soon as
similar agreement is obtained with
the Carranza authorities who are now
being negotiated with.
On General Carranza depends also
whether or not the effort of the Uni
ted States to neUtrali2e the rail
way between Mexico City and Vera
Cruz shall succeed, as the villa Zap
alta officials have likewise given their
assent to this proposal
State department officials decline to
discuss the status of the two propos
ais, beyond saying that they still
Were under consideration The plan
with respect to Mexico City con.
templates an arrangement whereby
order would be maintained there by
local council, made up of prominent
residents selected by mutual agree
ment between the opposing factions
The capital would not then under the
terms of the proposed agreement, be
subject to further attacks, nor would
there'.be any more changes in gov
eminent until central government
had been established.
Officials and diplomatists here, who
are conservant with the details of
the plan are much encouraged by the
prompt acceptance given to it by the
villa Zapta authorities and are now
hopeful that General Carranza can
be persuaded to do likewise. Duval
| West, personal representative OF
President Wilson who 1t is expected
will confer with General Carranza
at Vera Cruz In the next few days on
the Mexican situation in general,
probably will assist American Con
suls Silliman and Canada In their
efforts to secure Carranza's approval
Later, II is understood. Mr.. West
will 90 TO Mexico City to talk with
the Brazilian minister concerning the
situation,
| Should the capital be declared neu
trail, much of the apprehension for
the safety of foreigners would be re
moved and the famine menace elm
mated. Since such step would les
sen the likelihood of complication
with foreign powers the plan, in the
opinion of American officials should
appeal to all Mexican factions.
Quiet Along Border
No important engagement between
the Villa and Carranza forces were
reported to the Washington authori
ties from any source today, dispatch
es saying that comparative quiet pre-
. vailed along the border and that Tho
Mexico City situation was unchang
ed.
The Brazilian minister at the CAPT
tai advised the state department ina
taxes on mining property in lowe
California were payable at the capi
tai or at Chihuahua money deposited
in any American bank TO the orde
of the treasurer general OF the az
facto government being acceptapi'
for that purpose the department ha'
inquired II Governor Cantu of lowe
California was subject to the order'
of the Mexico City government Vari
: Gus owners of American mines ther'
having been puzzled as to how U
meet their tax obligations because o
confused conditions in Mexico. IN
status of Governor Cantu was no
defined in the reply.
Minor Merriweather, the youh
American arrested by villa Official
on a charge of counterfeiting and WI
later was released has compliance
that his personal effects and IN
money which caused his arrest wa
) conhscated.
, Merriweather entered the territor
controlled by Villa carrying a tol
, siderable amount of so called MOI
, clovia currency, used by Carrahz
supporters. which the villa official
require to be revalidated. Merriwei
3 Their asserted that this was done o