May Stop Export Of Arms.

New York Times 100 years ago today, July 24, 1913:
Administration's Tentative Plan to Cut Off Huerta's War Supplies.
Special to The New York Times.
    WASHINGTON, July 23.— President Wilson has apparently reached the conclusion that the time has come for the United States to take action that will help end the hostilities in Mexico and re-establish law and order. The plan which the President and his advisers are considering embraces these alternative propositions:
    First, that the United States Government offer its services as mediator to bring about an agreement between the Huerta Government and the Constitutionalists under which both sides will cease hostilities, agree to hold a constitutional election for President and Congress at an early date, and accept the result of that election, the Government of the United States agreeing in return to recognize the Federal authority thus constitutionally chosen.
    Second, that the United States Government rescind the privilege possessed by the Huerta Government of importing arms and other munitions of war from the United States, thus placing both Huertistas and Constitutionalists on an equality. A report was current to-night that the President had decided not to permit further war supplies to be sent to Mexico, but other information is that no course will be settled upon until after Ambassador Wilson has reached Washington and has given a first hand account of conditions in Mexico.
    The Administration's decision that a definite policy was necessary in dealing with Mexico is believed to be a direct result of yesterday's debate in the Senate over the resolution of Senator Fall.
    A conference was held at the White House to-day between President Wilson, Senator Bacon, Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Relations, and Representative Flood of Virginia, Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs.
    The idea in the minds of the two Chairmen was that the first step to be taken by the United States should be in the direction of granting belligerent rights to the Constitutionalists, or at least the privilege, possessed by the Huerta administration, of importing arms. The President, however, thought a grave error might be made by recognizing the revolutionists as belligerents. A better plan, according to the understanding of the agreement reached by the President and his advisers, would be to rescind the privilege which the Huerta Government possesses of importing munitions of war.
    How this might be accomplished was discussed at length. One suggestion was that the privilege of the Huerta Government be annulled by a joint resolution of Congress, repealing the Joint resolution of March 14, 1912, granting authority to the President to impose conditions under which munitions of war might be exported from the United States to a country on this hemisphere where a state of domestic violence existed.
    The conclusion was apparently reached at the conference that the purpose could be accomplished without having the resolution repealed. The declaration gives the President discretionary power to annul the right, possessed by the present Mexican Government, to import munitions from the United States. It reads:
    That whenever the President shall find that in any American country conditions of domestic violence exist which are promoted by the use of arms or munitions of war procured from the United States, or shall make proclamation thereof, it shall be unlawful to export, except under such limitations and exceptions as the President shall prescribe, any arms or munitions of war from any place in the United States to such country until otherwise ordered by the President or Congress.
    That any shipment of material hereby declared unlawful after such a proclamation shall be punishable by fine not exceeding $10,000, or imprisonment not exceeding two years, or both. This resolution was the outcome of complaints by Francisco I. Madero, President of Mexico, that the revolutionary movement in Chihuahua headed by Orozco was supported almost wholly by and from the United States. On the day the resolution was adopted. President Taft issued a proclamation to carry out its terms.
    It is now contended that President Wilson can rescind the privilege of the Huerta Government, as the de facto authority of Mexico, to receive munitions of war from United States territory.

President Much Concerned.
    The President and his advisers in the Cabinet and in Congress are deeply concerned over the situation. It is realized that things have reached a state in the southern republic where anarchy virtually prevails. The lives of American citizens are constantly in danger, and American property is being destroyed by bands of marauders, who appear to show no allegiance to either Government or rebels.
    Rear Admiral Charles F. Beatty, recently in command of the battleships, stationed at Vera Cruz and Tampico, came to Washington to-day on a flying visit and reported at the Navy Department. Acting Secretary Roosevelt obtained an informal off-hand report of conditions during the Admiral's service on the Mexican seaboard.
    It was the personal opinion of Admiral Beatty that conditions were steadily growing worse in Mexico, and that the signs all pointed to a political upheaval soon.
    The battleship Louisiana has returned to Tampico from Tuxpan without landing men. It is understood that the conditions at Tuxpan were exaggerated and that there was no apparent need for protection for Americans at that point.
    The State Department to-day received a long dispatch from Mr. O'Shaughnessy, Chargé d'Affaires at the City of Mexico, giving details of the reception to the Japanese Minister on his arrival yesterday.
    There were between 1,000 and 2,000 people at the railroad station when the Minister came in, most of them students of the Military Academy and city high schools. There was little excitement.
    All reports to the State Department indicate that the political condition in Mexico is growing more acute. The financial situation is giving cause for alarm, and the Government is having increasing difficulties to meet obligations.
    With the prospect of a disturbance in the City of Mexico at almost any moment, Americans there are growing fearful of their ability to defend themselves. An organized movement is on foot to protect the American residents and provide means for those who must leave the country by way of Vera Cruz.