New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-04-28

Lima Tells Senators
Wilson's Personal ENJOY
to Republic in 1913 On.
poses L. S. Intervention
FROM ihe Iribune's Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON, April 27.-Reports
from Mexico of the success of the revo-
iu1lonary movement against the Car
rama government 'are greatly exag-
gerated, John Lind, former Governor
OF Minnesota, who went to Mexico in
1913 as President Wilson's personal
representative, to-day told the sub
committee of the Senate Foreign Re
!auons Comm ttee, which is inves tigat-
ing me Mexican situation.
quest of President Wilson, Mr.. Lind
told the committee. it was "Carranza
or intervent on" Asked bv Judge
hearlul, attorney for the committee, if
ne 1elt that intervention would be nee
essary II Carranza were thrown out of
power oy counter revolution. he re-
Piled
Whatever happens, should look
epon intervention as most unfortunate
tor the Mevxican people"
Huerta, Mr.. Lind told the committee
failed to protect American Ives and
property outside of Mexico CITY and
a few spots on the Gulf of Mexico
When reminded by Judge Kearful that
previous witnesses before the commit
tee testified Huerta protected Amer
cans and their property in all parts
OF Mexico MT Lind said the witnesses
were prejudiced
THE whole attitude of the Huerta
government Mr. Lind continued, was
one of force and repression, The new
ideals Of the twentieth century had
reached Mexico when I went there
There was sort OF French revolution
brewing.
81 came to the conclusion that the
salvatlon OF Mexico depended upon q
new regime. 1t was Carranza or in
tervention. I took the position thai
unless Carranza was recognized bv ' our
government, Intervention was newt
able. Carranza was the most tolerable
OF the leaders in Mexico at the time.
| believed. The European war was
on then, and | felt it an absolute ne
cesslty to have our flank at peace or
as near peace as possible"
Patriotic, but Pig-headed
Mr.. Lind said he had never had any
faith in Villa as the executive head of
the Mexican government. He was an
intelligent savage" said Mr. Lind.
"Carranza | regarded as very able and
l think patriotic, but strong minded,
opinionated and pig-headed."
Did you understand your mission to
be the elimination Of Huerta from the
Mexican Presidency?' asked Judge
kearful
Not at ALL Mr.. Lind replied. "The
sole object was 10 secure peace under a
constitutional and orderly form of
government and to bring about an ad-
JUS tment between the contending par
Ties Huerta was to be asked to make
an armistce with the Carranza and
Villa factions. My prime object was to
induce them to adjust affairs so that
the country might have peace and re-
ceive recognition from our government.
The object was to have an election At
the earliest possible date"
"Huerta was not to stand as a candi-
date, was he?" Judge Kearful asked.
Not as candidate,' Mr.. Lind re-
piled. He had an agreement with the
Am assador whereby he was not to be
a candidate. But he refused absolutely
TO agree TO an armistice. Huerta took
the position that the other leaders were
ieOe-S anu tlal ne COulQ not MAKE an
armistice with them"
Mr.. Lind acknowledged that pro-
posal 10 obtain financial aid for the
defacto government on condition that
Huerta not be a candidate was made in
accordance with instructions from
President Wilson. Huerta, however,
insisted on being candidate.
Then you considered il essential
that Huerta eliminate himself from the
campaign :" Judge Kearful said.
Says Election Was Farce
Not that, but that the election
Should be free and fair and without
being embarrassed by his own cand-
dacy," Mr.. Lind said. The election,
however, was ridiculous farce.
'In Vera Cruz | went to polling
place and there wasn't a voter in sight
Some one, presumably q Huerta sup
porter, came up with bundle of $50
or geo ballots and dropped them into
tha open box, still tied with q string
So tar as know those were the only
votes cast"
y was in Mexico City at the same
time and saw similar condtions,' Judge
kearfu added.
Mr. Lind then described his relations
with the diplomatic circle in Mexico
and said that Cecil Spring Rice, then
British Minister there, first advised
him about Huerta. Later the German
Minister, Won Hintz, took the same
view as Lind did. the witness said.