The Washington herald., 1918-05-28
MEXICO-CUBAN
AFFAIR CAUSES
ANXIETY HERE
Strained Relations Subject
of Diplomatic Parleys
IN Washington.

President Wilson and Secretary Of
State Lansing are observing with
keen oficial interest the strained
diplomatic situation which has de-
veloped between Mexico and Cuba.
They are most anxious to learn the
real cause Of the withdrawal of the
Mexican Charge d'Affaires from Ha-
vana. Explanations made so fan
have not been satisfying. II Is said.
The President surprised both Mr..
Lansing and Secretary Of War Baker
yesterday afternoon by calling in
person for conferences at their re-
spective departments. Mexico is un-
derstood to have been the subject
discussed. Earlier in the day. Joseph
p. Tumulty, secretary to the Presi-
dent, conferred with Mr.. Lansing.
presumably on the same subject.
z situation Interesting.
The attitude OF the officials at the
conclusion of the conferences was
that the situation Is one of extraor-
dinary diplomatic interest, but not
necessarily of serious concern to the
United States at the present time.
Secretary Lansing said the Mexican
government had not offered any ex-
PLANTATION to the State Department
other than the statement made pub
lie from Mexico City by Candido
Aguilar. Carranza's minister of for
eign affairs, on. Saturday OF last
week
The excuse put forward for the
withdrawal of the Mexican diplo-
matte representative in Havana Is
declared to be without precedent in
international relations II Is the sub
ject of both amusement and concern
The language of the explanation
would make it appear, that President
Cara MA preferred to discontinue dip
lomatic relations with Cuba at this
time rather than break them off a
little later The cause for the step
Is not frankly stated. and therein
lies the mystery which is causing
concern.
There Is a strong suspicion in WASH
ington that pro-German influences
have been brought to bear in Mex
leo through Spain. The so-called
mother country is thought to have
been willing tool of the trouble
making Teutons as King Alfonso and
his subjects have bitterly resented
the growing friendliness between
Cuba and the United States.
Cuban Minister'S Statement.
Sr. Carlos Manuel Cespedes, the
Cuban Minister here, issued the fol-
lowing statement yesterday:
The Mexican government inform
ed the Charge dAffaires in Mexico
that the recall of the Mexican
Charge d'Affairs from Havana did
not imply a severance OF diplo-
matte relations.
THE Cuban government is hope
full that the difficulties will find a
satisfactory solution.
Cuba is engaged in the stern task
of fulfilling Ter duties, as an ally
and as a belligerent, to the great
cause defended by the United states
and the nations of the Entente.
while willing to defer to every
just claim of friendly nations, and
especially to those OF any of our
sister republics, the Cuban govern
ment cannot depart from the policy
Of vigilance and certain restrictions
made necessary by the state of war,
without incurring great RESPONSE
bilities.
1T is with a perfect sense of
these, and at the same time, adher-
ing to the principle that nothing is
definite among friends, prevailing
in relations among the Pan-Ameri-
can Republics, that will aetuate
Cuba in this case. which I feel con-
fdent will prove to be nothing more
than passing incident"
1t was also learned that Cuba pro-
poses to establish an even more
stringent censorship on all COM
munication between Mexico and
Spain that comes within jurisdic-