Says It Would Be War.

New York Times 100 years ago today, August 22, 1913:
Proposal to Land Troops in Mexico Attacked by Gamboa.
Special Cable to The New York Times.
    MEXICO CITY, Aug. 21.— Provisional President Huerta declined to be interviewed to-night in regard to the negotiations between the United States and Mexico for restoration of peace in this republic. So did John Lind, President Wilson's personal emissary to this capital.
    Federico Gamboa, the Mexican Minister of Foreign Relations, said in regard to the resolution offered by Senator Boies Penrose of Pennsylvania in the United States Senate to-day on the subject of protection for Americans living in this country:
    "I cannot believe that the Penrose resolution as to the landing of American troops in Mexican territory is compatible with the statement, 'This is no unfriendly act.'
    "Passage of the resolution would be equivalent to a declaration of war. It would necessitate all the usual preliminaries to conflict, such as the withdrawal of the chancelleries of the two countries and the taking of measures to protect Mexicans in the United States and Americans in Mexico.
    "Even publication of the story of the Penrose resolution in Mexico would be dangerous. Practically the entire attention of the Mexican Government through the last few days has been devoted to calming public opinion here. A published report of such action on the part of a United States Senator would nullify all our efforts.
    "It is doubtful that in the event of such publication the police would be able to prevent demonstrations against Americans on the part of Mexican citizens."

    MEXICO CITY, Aug. 21.— The Mexican press devoted itself editorially today to the possibilities of recognition by the United States of the belligerency of the rebels and intervention, either of which courses the newspapers appear to consider imminent.
    El Pais, the organ of the Clerical Party, after pointing out that the Madero rebellion had one recognized chief, says:
    "Suppose Gen. Huerta relinquishes power — to whom would he deliver it? Carranza? No, because Zapata would claim it for himself. Maytorena? No, because Pesqueira would not be conformable. To Zapata!
    "Should the United States recognize the belligerency of the rebels, which group could it recognize as a belligerent? This, Mr. Lind, is the precise situation."
    The Independence quotes ex-Vice President Charles W. Fairbanks as saying it would "be foolish to sacrifice one soldier for all the dollars of American speculators," and asks "how he would characterize intervention from the Mexican point of view, which is that thousands of Mexicans would be forced to die opposing a most unwarranted aggression. There is only one adequate word," the newspaper concludes, "and that is 'crime.'"
    Officially, Mexico continues silent regarding the negotiations with the representative of the President of the United States, John Lind, although the public has been given to understand that they still are in progress. Mr. Lind has shown no indication of early departure, and the conferences between him and the Foreign Minister, Federico Gamboa. which have been held at intervals serve as a basis for the statement that cordial relations prevail.
    A conference between Mr. Lind and the Foreign Minister was held this afternoon, but as usual the nature of the talk was not revealed.