The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-09-13
PRESIDENT GIVES
PERSONAL AID TO
JOINT Commission
Tells Mexican Delegates of
His Sympathy in Struggle
for Liberty in South
ern Republic

New London. Conn. September IL.
President Wilson lent his personal
touch today TO aid the efforts Of the
American Mexican Joint commission in
seeking a permanent foundation OF
sympathy and understanding upon
which may rest the future relations Of
the United States and Mexico.
Putting aside for one hour his own
his sister. who is dying here, Mr.. Will
son exchanged calls with General Car
ranza's representatives. 1t was the
first time that the executive had dealt
personally with a representative of the
Mexican de facto government and the
significance of this fact was not lost
on the Mexican ministers.
For the first time, also, the repre-
sentatives of Carranza received directly
from the man in whose hands perhaps
lies the fate of their country, his state
ment of sympathy with the revolution
in Mexico.
Mr.. Luis Cabrera, Carrapzas minis-
ter of finance and chairman of the
Mexican delegation, asserted that his
country was struggling toward the
light of free and democratic govern
ment.
The meeting was arranged when the
President arrived yesterday. summoned
to the bedside of his stricken relative,
Mrs. Annie E. Howe. A message Of
sympathy from Mr. Cabrera, and his
associates was carried to Mr. Wilson
by Secretary Lane.
The message contained the hope also
that the Mexican representatives might
pay their respects to the President in
person before they returned home. The
executive signified his wish to meet
the naval yacht Mayflower. The visi-
tors were received with full naval hon
ors except that the salute was omitted
A brief exchange of greetings took
place in the Presidents saloon, Secre-
tary Lane introducing the Mexican con-
ferees.
Whiting 10 minutes after the Mexi-
can commissioners had returned to the
hotel where the conferences are TAX
visit At the pier he was met by Sec
rotary Lane. Judge Gray and John r.
Mott and escorted to the sun parlor,
where the Mexican representatives
awaited him. For half an hour the
President and six commissioners con-
ferred informally.
The President said he was more ia
miliar than his hearers perhaps real
ICED with the fundamental principles
of the struggle for freedom in Mexico.
He advised them of his deepest sympa-
thy with those aims, adding that right
thinking men all over the world must
sympathize with such high aspirations.
From the brief statement he made the
Mexican commissioners realized that
the President has kept in personal
touch with all that is taking place
across the Mexican border.
1t was in this connection that he said
that regeneration must come from
within and that development must be
parallel in all three lines.
Mr.. Cabrera in his reply referred to
the United States as leader of the
movement for free government and as
the tutor to whom Mexico must look
in striving for the type of government
it's people sought. Much had been done
he said, but much also remained to be
accomplished before the aims of the
revolution could be achieved.
In the morning hours before the ex-
change of visits the joint commission
considered reports submitted by the
Mexican members as to the political
events which brought their de facto
government into power. In effect the
! story which they are presenting is that
of Carranza's battle with Villa and
Zapata, for it begins with the Aguas
| Cauentes convention of military leaders
OF the revolution in 1914. the failure
of which to provide satisfactory form
of civil government was followed by
the new civil war.
The commission will resume delib-
erations tomorrow and probably will
continue it's review of Mexican politics.
Major General Bliss. assistant chief OF
staff of the army, who has been sum-
moned by Secretary Lane for confer
ence with the Mexican commissioners,
is expected to arrive here tomorrow. 1t
is regarded as unlik ely that the com
mission will further discuss the imme-
date border situation at present.
formal statement issued by the
commission reported a review of the
political developments in Mexico to
show that civil government was being
substituted for military rule by the de
facto government. Civil governors have
been installed in 10 states and the ter
ritory of Lower California, it was said.
MIR. Cabrera further outlined" the
statement continued, 1.-THE plan which
General Carranza had in mind for the
speedy civil reorganization of the coun-
try. He is of the opinion that certain
basic social and economic reforms
should be carried through preliminary
TO the revision OF the present constitu-
ton. AS soon as conditions permit a
constitutional convention will be called
for this purpose Immediately after
the revision of the constitution has
been effected, provision will be made
for elections within the special states
OF the union and this will be followed
by the presidential election.
with this programme the Car.
rama government win establish the
country on a basis which will assure
to the Mexican citizen not merely a
wider measure of liberty, but guaran.
tee to him opportunity which he has
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