New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-11-20
MEXICO ISSUE
.NEARS A CRISIS
Wilson Orders Lane
to Stop ParleyS and
Advise Action
From The Tribuns Bureau. j


Washington, Nov. 19.-AAs a result
of the decision reached last night at
the White House conference, Wash
ington officials predict that the crisis
of the Mexican situation will be
reached and passed this week. Within
fcrty-eight hours, perhaps. it will be
known whether the Atlantic City con-
ference, after ten weeks of effort, is
q success or a failure.
From sources close to the President
it was learned that if Carranza re-
fuses TO meet the terms Of the United
States Mr.. Wilson will pursue any
plan that the American commissioners
suggest. If the commission fails, it
is believed, it will mean the end Of
the Administration Mexican policy as
it has existed for three years.
The American commissioners, ac-
cording to reliable information, will
recommend, in such a case, an iron
hard policy, with intervention as the
only alternative to recognition by
Carranza of this governments moral
rrotectorate over Mexico.
Lane Goes to Atlantic City
Secretary Lane left tonight for At.
lantic City to try the plan that was
agreed upon with the President and
Secretaries Lansing and Baker last
night. It's details are secret, but Mr..
Lane declared he was decidedly hope
fuI OF reaching settlement with 1t.
Before the White House conference
the prospects we're admitted to be de-
cidedly gloomy. A deadlock had been
reached at Atlantic City. due to Car
ranza's refusal to ratify any plan that
imposed condition on Pershing's with
drawal from Mexico. How this gap
was bridged is not known, but it was
evident that Secretary Lane after his
talk with the presioent believed that it
had been.
The possibilities, as seen by students
of the situation, are two. One is that
the American commissioners will stand
pat on their original proposal for a
conditional withdrawal, dependent on
Carranzas ability to clean up North
ern Mexico. II this plan is adopted it
will be because OF a belief that Car
rama will capitulale rather than force
a break in the commission that might
lead to Intervention. The President Is
known 10 be set against intervention II
another solution can be found. but has
promised to abide py the conclusions
Of the commission
Possible Change In Form
The other possibility is that Presi-
dent Wilson will make a new proposal,
in which the conditional form of the
first plan shall be abandoned, but the
substance retained. Army officers say
that it would take six weeks for Per-
shing to withdraw from Mexico, unless
there was reason for greater haste.
An unconditional agreement to with
draw could be made, therefore, and
NdCdteu ny lHlS government IL III lnS
meantime Carranza failed to meet the
demands of the United States.
Strong representations by the Brit
ish and French governments have oper-
ated to convince the Administration
that its Mexican policy must be over
hauled. The British government, par
ticularly, is deeply concerned over the
possibility of rebel attack on it's oil
supply at Tampico. in which case if
the United States failed to intervene
British intervention would be neces-
sary. The Tampico oil fields supply
the fuel for the British fleet.
Under the Monroe doctrine the
United States could not countenance
European intervention in Mexico, and
the possibility of such action by Great
Britain, therefore, has caused consid-
cradle disquietude. At present there
are not revolutionary operations in the
neighborhood of Tampico, but there is
no guarantee that this state of quiet
will continue.