The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-05-29
KEENLY WATCHING
CUBAN SITUATION
President Wilson Personally
Calls on State Department
for a Conference.
MEXICO KEEPS QUIET
Withdrawal of Mexican Charge
d'Affaires From Havana
Still Matter of Much
Speculation.

Washington, May 2s.-President
Wilson and Secretary OF state Lans-
ing are observing with keen, official
insterest the strained diplomatic situ-
alton which has developed between
Mexico and Cuba. They are most
anxious to learn the real cause of the
withdrawal of the Mexican charge
d affaires from Havana. Explanations
made so far have not been satisfying,
1t is stated
The president surprised both Mr..
Lansing and Secretary OF War Baker
this afternoon by calling in person for
conferences at the departments over
which they preside. Mexico is under
stood to have been the subject dis
cussed but no details were made
availabl Earlier in the day Joseph
p. Tumulty, secretary to the prest-
dent, conferred with Mr. Lansing. pre-
sumably on the same subject
The attitude OF the officials at the
conclusion of the conferences was the
situation is one of extraordinary dip
tomato interest but not necessarily OF
serious concern to the United States
at the present time. Secretary fans
ing said the Mexican government had
not offered any explanation TO the
state department other than the state
ment made public from Mexico City
by Candida Aguilar. Carranza $ min
lister Of foreign affairs on Saturday
of last week.
The excuse put forward for the
withdrawal of the Mexican diplomatic
representative in Havana is declared
to be without precedent in interna-
tional relations 1t is the subject Of
both amusement and concern The
language of the explanation would
make it appear that President Car
rama preferred 10 discontinue diplo-
matte 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.
Suspicion German Influence
There is strong suspicion in
Washington that pro-German in
huences have been brought to bear
in Mexico through Sapn. The So
called mother country is thought to
have heen 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
Senior Carlos Manuel Cespedes, the
Cuban minister here. issued the fol-
lowing statement today:
The Mexican government informed
the charge daffaires in Mexico that
the recall of the Mexican charge
d'affaires from Havana does not i'm
ply severance of diplomatic rela-
tons
The Cuban government Is hope
full that the dificulties will find a
satisfactory solution
Cuba is engaged in the stern task
of fulfilling her duties, as an ally and
as belligerent, to the great cause
defended by the United States and the
nations of the entente.
While willing to defer to every lust
claim of friendly nations, and es-
pecially TO those of any OF our sister
republics, the Cuban government can
not depart from the policy of vigil
ance and certain restrictions made
necessary by the state of war, with
out mourning great responsibilities
II rs with perfect sense OF these
ana at the same time adhering to the
principle that nothing is dehnitive
among friends. prevailing in relations
among the Pan-American republics,
that will actuate Cuba In this case.
which I feel confident will prove to
be nothing more than a passing incl
dent"
Censorship of Malls.
II was also learned in a direct
though unofficial manner. that Cuba
proposes to establish even more strin-
gent censorship~on mail and all com
munication between Mexico and Spain
that comes within jurisdiction. In
THIS light the action of the Mexican
government is looked upon here as an
open effort TO avoid the issues 1t is
pointed out that despite the claim to
neutrality set up by President Car
rama and the Mexican government
there are hundreds of thousands of
Germans in Mexico and many hun
dreds of thousands of Mexicans in
sympathy with them. AS a political
proposition, the Carranza government
could not afford to ignore their de-
mandS for complaint against Cuba
Rather than be placed between the
two fires of the pro-Germans at home
and the vigorous action which Cuba
has determined upon abroad. the
novel diplomatic expedient of a
friendly break" in diplomatic rela-
tons have been adopted by the Car
rama government
Cuba, according to unofficial reflec-
tons OF the sentiment OF the republic
received here is heart and soul In the
war. Under her conscriptive service
act Cuba can place 100000 men in
the held A large part Of that num-
Der are already under arms and I'M
dergoing training. Her dependence
upon Mexico is far less than Mexico's
dependence upon Cuba
While Cuba imports a few beans
and peas and a little oil from Mexico.
Mexico is in vital need of large guam
titles OF Cuban sugar and tobacco.
Cubans in Washington are inciin-
ed to accept the Angular explanation
as the best way out Of a bad situation
for Mexico, and they further believe
the matter will be adjusted without
great difficulty
Tu.ar Y