No Intervention, But We Are Ready.

New York Times 100 years ago today, February 10, 1913:
Danger to Americans Only Will Cause Taft to Act in Mexican Situation.
FEARS TO EMBARRASS WILSON
Army and Navy Prepared to Take Swift Action on Short Notice in Any Emergency.
Special to The New York Times.
    WASHINGTON, Feb. 9.— After the maze of non-official reports of the political disturbances in the City of Mexico which Washington received to-day comes a telegram to-night to the State Department from the American Consul at Nueva Laredo, Mexico, on the American border, saying that he had heard a report that Madero had been overthrown; that Gen. Reyes and Gen Diaz had been released from prison by a mob, and that Reyes had been killed. On receiving this information Secretary Knox sent telegraphic instructions to Ambassador Wilson at Mexico City to make a detailed report immediately of everything that had occurred in the capital to-day. Shortly before midnight the State Department received a dispatch from Ambassador Wilson saying that a rumor was current in Mexico City that the Arsenal had surrendered to Felix Diaz; that mounted police, artillery, and rurales from Pacudaya had declared for him, and that the National Palace was the only place still loyal to Madero.
    Another late dispatch from Ambassador Wilson says that the revolt began at 8:30 o'clock this morning, and that Gens. Diaz and Reyes were released from jail.
    Fighting began and President Madero led the loyal forces in person. Ambassador Wilson adds that it is impossible to obtain details.
    Despite the disquieting conditions this report indicates, the fact stands out clearly that President Taft has no intention of directing military intervention in Mexican affairs, no matter what has happened or is happening in the capital city. Although authoritative sanction for the statement is lacking, if seems to be within the truth to say that the President will not even take steps to pave the way for intervention.
    President Taft has shown that he has no desire to embarrass his successor in office in connection with the Mexican imbroglio. He has resisted the strongest kind of pressure from many influential quarters to deal with the situation with an iron hand. He believes that the military invasion of Mexican territory might be practically synchronous with the massacre of many innocent American citizens in the perturbed country, and possibly result in war between the two republics. All his efforts have been directed toward bringing about better conditions and lessening the problem with which President Wilson will probably have to deal.
    A brief dispatch came to the War Department from Brig. Gen. Steever at El Paso, who commands the United States military forces on the Mexican border. He said that it was "reported" in El Paso that a revolt had occurred in the City of Mexico, headed by Felix Diaz, and that President Madero had been captured.
    Mr. Knox, Secretary of State, is authority for the statement that no advices from Henry Lane Wilson, the American Ambassador to Mexico, or from any American consular official, or any other person in that country, have come to the State Department. Mr. Meyer, the Secretary of the Navy, and other officers of the naval administration, said that they were without information, and had taken no active steps toward sending a strong force of American war vessels to Mexican waters. There were no conferences as far as was known between President Taft and his official advisers, and nothing occurred in the day to indicate any disturbance of Washington's customary Sunday calm. President Taft went automobile riding in the afternoon with his aunt, Miss Delia Torrey.
    The Government, however, is thoroughly prepared to meet any emergency. The Atlantic battleship fleet is at Guantanamo, the American naval station on the southeast coast of Cuba, and could quickly proceed to Vera Cruz. The armored cruisers Colorado and South Dakota, under command of Rear Admiral W. H. H. Southerland, are at San Diego, Cal., and could start for Acapulco, the principal Mexican port on the Pacific side of the country, within a few hours after receiving orders. The cruiser Denver is probably at Acapulco. Last Friday she was ordered to proceed to Central America to protect American interests in connection with disturbances there, but no information that she has left Acapulco has been received here. The gunboat Annapolis is on her way from San Diego, Cal., to Central America, and probably could be communicated with by wireless.
    As far as the army is concerned, Gen. Steever has 5,000 regular troops under his command along the Mexican-American border. Nearly two years ago the general staff of the army prepared plans for the mobilization of 5,000 troops at Newport News, Va., on short notice, and for their transportation without delay to Cuban ports or Vera Cruz. These 5,000 troops form an emergency force, and would merely serve as the vanguard of an army that might be sent to Cuba or Mexico should conditions demand such a course. Four army transports, under the directions laid down in this plan, are always kept within easy reach of Newport News, and the troops that would form the initial expeditionary force could be entrained quickly under standing arrangements with railroad companies. In addition, the general staff has plans at hand for the mobilization of a large military force on the Mexican border.
    But, in the opinion of Government officials, nothing probably has occurred in Mexico to justify resort to any of these measures. It was said by officers of the Administration to-night that the overturn of the Madero Government might not change conditions in Mexico to any appreciable degree, so far as the United States was concerned. The only qualification of this statement lies in the intimation that if fighting in Mexican territory becomes general and American interests receive no protection whatever, public opinion in this country might be aroused to such an extent that the Washington Government would feel called on to intervene.
    Late this evening President Taft was furnished with copies of press dispatches giving details or the exciting occurrences in Mexico City. He was deeply interested, and expressed a desire to receive all the information available. He did not, however, send for any of his official advisers.