Plans Dismissal For H.L. Wilson.

New York Times 100 years ago today, August 14, 1913:
President Contemplates Summary Punishment of Envoy's Criticism of England.
FOREIGN OFFICE ATTACKED
Ambassador Denies Its Statement That Recognition Followed His Speech to Huerta.
EVENTS NEAR IN MEXICO
Important Developments Expected There To-day — Lind Moves Into Embassy.
Special to The New York Times.
    WASHINGTON, Aug. 13.— President Wilson and Secretary Bryan contemplated to-night the possibility of immediate acceptance of the resignation of the United States Ambassador to Mexico, as a result of what they were disposed to construe as an affront to the British Government contained in formal comments made by him.
    Henry Lane Wilson, whose resignation as Ambassador to Mexico was accepted recently to take effect Oct. 14, issued a reply to-day attacking the reported Statement of the British Foreign Office that recognition of the Huerta Government had been extended by England after he made "a congratulatory speech" to the Provisional President of Mexico.
    President Wilson read the Ambassador's statement and was so incensed at its tone and contents that he promptly requested Secretary Bryan to ascertain through the British Embassy here whether the utterance of the British Foreign Office as reported was correct, and to-night the dismissal of Ambassador Wilson by acceptance of his resignation to make it take effect immediately was under consideration by the Administration.

Will Take Up Case To-day.
    Secretary Bryan and President Wilson to-morrow will discuss the reported statement of the British Foreign Office, which said that Great Britain recognized the Huerta Government only provisionally, pending an election, and pointed out that Great Britain, France, and Germany had accorded recognition after "congratulatory speech" to President Huerta by Ambassador Henry Lane Wilson, dean of the Diplomatic Corps in Mexico City.
    The official interpretation or the British statement, which is credited by Administration officials, though they now will formally inquire into its authenticity, has been that Great Britain had expected the United States also to recognize the Huerta Government because Ambassador Wilson had read the speech.
    Ambassador Wilson's views are known at the British Foreign Office to be at variance with those of the Washington Administration, but President Wilson is said to be disposed not to permit any attacks on the British Government from an official of the United States, which Ambassador Wilson would continue to be until October.

Take Exception to Remark.
    Administration officials took particular exception to the Ambassador's remark, "If this statement really emanated from the British Foreign Office, it is at variance with its traditions and with the character which it has maintained before the world for two centuries."
    It was pointed out that should the British Government's statement prove authentic, which is believed here to be the case, the American Government would be in the embarrassing position of maintaining an official who had criticised a friendly nation.
    Disapproval also was voiced in Administration circles of the Ambassador's reference to the recognition of the Huerta Administration by European Governments "after waiting vainly for the recognition of the Government of the United States, which they universally thought should be accorded."
    Official notice had not been taken of the Ambassador's criticism of the American Government's policy, as expressed in published interviews, but tonight Secretary Bryan decided to inquire of Ambassador Wilson, who is now in Washington, whether he had authorized the statement given to the newspapers by him.

Ambassador Wilson's Reply.
    In his response to Great Britain, Ambassador Wilson expressed doubt that the statement was genuine, for, he said, the assertions it contained were entirely contrary to the facts. Secretary Bryan announced that the statement had not been communicated to the State Department, and other officials assert that in their opinion any such communication from the British Government would have been telegraphed immediately to Washington by Ambassador Page.
    In his response. Ambassador Wilson alleged that the address which he made to President Huerta in behalf of the
    Diplomatic Corps was drawn not by himself, but by two of his diplomatic colleagues, one of whom was the British Minister. That statement by the Ambassador was regarded as calling for an explanation from the British Government — provided that it was responsible for the implied accusation that Germany and France had recognized the Huerta Government because of Mr. Wilson's address to President Huerta.
    According to Mr. Wilson, all the Governments which had diplomatic representatives in the City of Mexico at the time of Huerta's accession to power were parties to the speech which he made.

Doubts Statement Is Genuine.
    Mr. Wilson's statement follows:
    If this statement (England's) really emanated from the British Foreign Office, it is at variance with its traditions and with the character which it has maintained before the world for two centuries. I doubt the genuineness of the statement as it is pure subterfuge, unworthy of the British Foreign Office.
    As there existed at the time of this reception only a provisional Government in Mexico, the Government of Great Britain could naturally recognize nothing but a Provisional Government, which it did in exactly the same manner and practically the same phraseology as all other European nations.
    That Great Britain was moved to recognition by its desire to assist in the restoration of order is most likely true, and I believe this factor was the determining one with all Governments which followed the example of Great Britain, though most of them recognized the Mexican Provisional Government at a much later date. The action of the Government of Great Britain was not in the slightest degree affected by the so-called congratulatory speech made by me on behalf of the Diplomatic Corps. This address was not drawn by me, but by the Spanish and British Ministers at the request of the entire resident Diplomatic Corps. I purposely declined responsibility for the wording, and in the form in which it finally appeared it was the expression of the views of the entire Diplomatic Corps, representing Governments which had none of them at that time recognized the Provisional Government.
    For more than a month after this reception, the British Government maintained an attitude of hostility toward the Government of Gen. Huerta. and when final recognition was accorded it came as the result of a complete reversal of policy. The Government of the other European powers recognized the Mexican Provisional Government some time after the recognition of Great Britain was given, after waiting vainly for the recognition of the Government of the United States, which they universally thought should be accorded.
    The truth of the statement I have made here is of record in the Department of State at Washington, and doubtless also upon the record of every Government accredited to Mexico at that time.

Europe Will Not Meddle.
    The United States Government has informally sounded the powers and learned that foreign Governments generally will do nothing to embarrass the peace policy of President Wilson toward Mexico, and are inclined to support it.
    As a step in the direction of obtaining the moral support of other nations in the effort to restore peace in Mexico, this Government has communicated to chancelleries abroad a report received from Mexico City in regard to the visit made yesterday by John Lind, President Wilson's special representative, to Frederico Gamboa, the new Mexican Minister of Foreign Affairs. Hereafter reports of the progress of Mr. Lind's mission will be sent to foreign Governments. It is part of the Administration's plan to keep those powers informed of the endeavors it is making through Mr. Lind and otherwise to restore normal conditions in Mexican territory.
    By that means the Administration hopes to convince other Governments of its earnestness in seeking to end Mexico's troubles and to obtain the approval of the powers having interests in Mexico, resulting either in direct or indirect pressure on Provisional President Huerta and his following to consent to proposals from the United States.
    The report that came to the State Department concerning Mr. Lind's visit to Señor Gamboa shows that their talk was not perfunctory, in spite of the fact that Mr. Lind was received merely as a distinguished citizen of the United States.
    Although Secretary Bryan declined to give information as to the details of the report it is the opinion among officials that Mr. Lind let it be known to the Mexican Foreign Minister that the United States would not grant recognition to the Mexican Government until a President and Congress had been elected by constitutional means and installed in office. This is the first positive step the United States Government has taken. It is intended to provide a foundation for the proposals that are intended to restore order
    The department received confirmation of the press report from Tokio that the Japanese Government had notified Mexico Gen. Felix Diaz, President Huerta's special emissary to Japan, would not be received officially in the Japanese capital.
    Much gratification was expressed at Japan's action. Officials said it was in line with the fine spirit shown by Tokio in connection with negotiations over the California alien land law. It was construed as a mark of Japan's friendliness and came with particular good grace at this time, it was said, because of the difficulties the United States faced in the Mexican situation. The refusal to receive President Huerta's representative evidently was intended as a snub to the efforts of certain factions in Mexico to impress this Government with the idea that Japan and Mexico had an agreement that would put Japan on Mexico's side should there be trouble between the southern republic and the United States.

Senators Feel Easier.
    The quieter feeling that prevailed in the Senate regarding the Mexican situation was indicated clearly in the way the Committee on Foreign Relations received this morning the first installment of Senator Smith's report, as Chairman of the sub-committee appointed to investigate the alleged share of American capital in Mexican revolutions. Mr. Smith's report was not ready for presentation in writing, but as he outlined it orally it was apparent that his colleagues did not agree with the deductions he seemed to draw from testimony before his sub-committee. The testimony became public, for the most part, as fast as it was received, and several months ago was printed as a Senate document. Mr. Smith's statement to-day was a part summary of facts, with argumentative deductions from them, in general supporting the position of Ambassador Wilson. Chairman Smith's preliminary statement made little impression, and when a bell announced a call of the Senate the committeemen arose, probably not to meet again before next Wednesday.

Clapp Praises Wilson's Course.
    During the tariff debate in the Senate to-day Senator Clapp, Progressive Republican, referred, in passing, to President Wilson and the Mexican situation.
    "I believe your President has the love and the confidence of the American people," said he. "I do not share in the effort here or elsewhere to embarrass him in the delicate situation which now confronts him.
    "While I would put a stop to the President's dictating tariff bills, I would leave him alone in the delicate situation which now confronts him, believing that he will find the right solution. I believe he has shown wisdom in his high office."