Mexicans Condemn Idea Of Mediation.

New York Times 100 years ago today, July 26, 1913:
Constitutionalists Insist They Cannot Treat with Huerta Administration.
CONFERENCE LIKELY TO-DAY
Bryan Arrives for Meeting with President and Ambassador on Southern Republic.
Special to The New York Times.
    WASHINGTON. July 25.— Secretary Bryan came back to Washington to-day to participate in the conference that probably will be held to-morrow between President Wilson and Henry Lane Wilson, Ambassador to Mexico, who is expected here in the morning. Mr. Bryan has an engagement to appear before the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations to-morrow to supply more details in regard to his plan of extending an American protectorate over Nicaragua. It is supposed the members of the committee will take advantage of the opportunity to question him in regard to the President's programme of attempting to adjust the troubles in Mexico through the exercise of the mediatory offices of the United States.
    It was made apparent to-day that if the mediation plan were successful it would be only after some pretty hard sledding. Although Democratic members of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations and the House Committee on Foreign Affairs generally have expressed approval of the idea, the Constitutionalists or revolutionists are more pronounced in opposition to it than they were yesterday. The Huerta Government has not expressed an opinion, but the belief is general here that the Washington Administration's overtures would be received coldly, and perhaps be rejected flatly.

Denies Charges Are Planned.
    Mr. Bryan gave a positive denial to-day to reports that when Ambassador Wilson should meet President Wilson and the Secretary of State he would be confronted with charges in regard to his personal and official conduct us the American representative in Mexico City.
    In answer to questions, Secretary Bryan indicated that the Administration had not formed a precise plan of action with regard to its future dealings with Mexico, but that progress was being made toward a policy that might be announced in the near future. Mr. Bryan laughed over the suggestion that he might be sent to Mexico as President Wilson's mediator. He gave assurance that there was no foundation for the idea, which came from Senators and Representatives following President Wilson's conference with the Chairmen of the Senate and House committees in regard to Mexican affairs.
    Soon after his return, Mr. Bryan had a brief interview with President Wilson to arrange details for the approaching conference with the Ambassador. From what the Secretary said afterward, it was evident he believed the first conference between the President, the Ambassador, and himself would take place to-morrow, instead of being deferred until Monday, as was suggested in Administration circles yesterday.

Rebels Oppose Mediation.
    The Constitutionalists' agents in Washington have been in communication with their principals in Mexico since the mediation idea became known here. The character of the answers received by them shows that the Constitutionalists are not taken with the plan reported to have been practically decided on by President Wilson. One of the telegrams received to-day said:
    The Huerta Government was founded on treason and murder, and this view appears to be accepted by the Government of the United States, since it has refused to recognize the existence of the Huerta regime as a de jure Government. The Constitutionalists' Government is waging war against that set up by Huerta, with the object of restoring constitutional order and for the purpose of bringing about a state of peace under which free elections may be held.
    The telegram also contained this statement:
    To consent to foreign mediation to determine the differences between a group of military conspirators and assassins and the Constitutionalists' cause would be to admit the weakness of the latter and the impossibility on the part of the people of Mexico to vindicate their national honor.
    The views expressed in that and other dispatches of the same tenor from Mexico are shared by the Constitutionalist representatives here.
    Republican Senators of the Committee on Foreign Relations have not yet been consulted as to the Administration's plans for mediation between the contending Mexican factions. Among these Senators the fear is expressed pointedly that an offer to mediate just now would be very premature. They think American diplomacy so far has shown itself so weak and futile that Mexicans, convinced that the United States under no circumstances would resort to arms, merely would laugh at a suggestion that this country settle internal Mexican difficulties.

Diplomacy That Did Something.
    As an example of what diplomacy might accomplish in vigorous hands. Senator Lodge of Massachusetts referred in a speech the other day to the case of an American citizen rescued from a drumhead court-martial by an attache of the German Legation. The details of that story make a stirring picture of the courage of the American citizen, and the ready resources of "diplomacy" as understood in the German service.
    The American was a naturalized native of Germany, with a little ranch a short distance from the City of Mexico. Fearing an attack from the insurrectos, he built on a hill rising behind his hacienda, a little fort of stone, such as is used on Chesapeake Bay as a blind for shooting water fowl. In that fort he placed several rifles and a supply of ammunition.
    When the attack did come it was so sudden that the American only had time to jump out of a back window, and run to his fortification. All his servants had field, except two old men and an old woman. The old men were shot, but the woman was released and made her way around the hill into the fort. The rebels then set fire to the house, and advanced against the fortification.
    The German-American was an excellent shot, and as they ascended the hill he killed or wounded eighteen of them. Just as he was about to be captured a detachment of Federal soldiers appeared, drove the rebels away, and arrested the German-American on the extraordinary charge of killing Mexican citizens.
    The captive was led to prison in Mexico. As he passed through the streets he recognized a shopkeeper of his acquaintance, and called to him in German that he was going to he killed unless the German Minister should rescue him. His friend hurried to the German Legation, and the Military Attaché hastened to the prison. There he insisted that the prisoner only had fired on armed rebels against the established Government, and demanded a fair trial. The trial was promised, but the next day the German Legation learned that it was before a drumhead court-martial, and that the prisoner was not permitted to testify nor have the old woman testify for him.
    The Military Attaché again went to the prison. He insisted that the Mexican officers had violated their promise of a fair trial, and without more debate took the prisoner by the arm and marched him to the legation. There the Attaché told the refugee that as an American citizen, the German Minister could not interfere nor take any cognizance of his escape. He supplied the American with money, however, and advised him to take ship from Vera Cruz as quickly as possible to the United States, which the refugee did.