Huerta Explains Mexico's Position.

New York Times 100 years ago today, May 10, 1913:
Insists Ambassador Wilson Has No Diplomatic Standing There.
CLAIMS CAN'T BE SETTLED
Provisional President Points Out His Republic Has No Personality Before United States.
    MEXICO CITY, May 9.— Keen interest is being displayed by the Government and the public generally in what action the United States Government will take as a consequence of the virtual repudiation of Ambassador Wilson to-day by President Huerta. The President has made no statement either to Ambassador Wilson or to the public qualifying his assertion that Mr. Wilson "diplomatically has no standing," but Foreign Minister de la Barra, who always has been regarded as desirous to placate everybody in dissensions, showed eagerness to minimize the incident.
    Señor de la Barra said the announcement by President Huerta did not mean the severance of diplomatic relations between the United States and Mexico. He drew a fine distinction between the diplomatic representative who performed the full functions of his office and one who confined himself to routine matters, and said he apprehended no serious consequences from to-day's incident.
    Men close to the Administration say they would not be surprised should the United States take Mexico at her word and recall Ambassador Wilson, but the opinion prevails that President Huerta is not prepared to go so far as to hand the Ambassador his passports. That President Huerta in his conference with Mr. Wilson used much emphasis in explaining the position of his Government and that his remarks were characterized by a bitterness and warmth which clearly reflected his deep resentment against what he termed the unreasonableness of the Washington Government in withholding recognition of the Mexican Government, has been established, though Ambassador Wilson has refrained from discussing it.
    In the face of the statement of President Huerta that a loan had been arranged through English, Belgian, French, and German bankers and was lacking only authorization by Congress, there persists the opinion that recognition of the Mexican Government by the United States is an essential condition to the consummation of the loan, and that this fact was the chief cause for President Huerta's attitude to Ambassador Wilson.
    President Huerta, in his conference yesterday with the American Ambassador, stated clearly the position of Mexico in relation to the United States. The following official version of what occurred was given out to-day.
    "Provisional President Huerta respectfully stated to Ambassador Wilson, that diplomat having referred to official matters, that the Government of Mexico was disposed to arrange the affairs pending between it and the Government of the United States. It was pointed out, however, that for the time being the American Ambassador should understand the necessity which the Government of Mexico has for abstaining from treating any official matters, with the exception of urgent affairs or ordinary procedure, for the simple reason that while the Government of the United States did not recognize the Government of Mexico all agreements would be ineffective, in view of the fact that the Government of Mexico has no personality before the Government of the United States.
    "This was the substance of the conference between His Excellency Ambassador Wilson and the President of the Republic of Mexico, Gen. Victoriano Huerta.
    "In addition, however, the Government of Mexico, whether recognized or not by the United States, has adopted and will always adopt measures for the security of all the inhabitants of the country, whether its own natives or foreigners, and this has been demonstrated by the attention given to the just petitions of those who have been in any manner injured by past revolutions.
    "The United States and all the peoples of Europe have irrefutable proofs that the Government of Mexico is specially pledged to give guarantees to everybody, without distinction of nationality."
    It was reiterated to-day that Ambassador Wilson had no official standing in Mexico in the eyes of the present Administration. President Huerta said:
    "As a personal friend, I am always glad to treat with Mr. Wilson, but diplomatically he has no standing."
    The Ambassador reported the statement to the State Department in Washington. .
    The newspaper El Pais in an editorial to-day bitterly censured the attitude of the United States, asserting that that country should view the policy of non-recognition of Mexico frankly and withdraw not only Ambassador Wilson, but also its Consular officers.
    The claims arising out of the revolutions — the Chamizal Zone dispute, the Colorado River water rights, and other matters — were discussed by Provisional President Huerta and Ambassador Wilson at the inception of the new Administration. Gen. Huerta at that time promised immediate settlement, authorizing Francisco de la Barra, Foreign Minister, to make a speedy arrangement with the Ambassador.
    The rebels again have cut off the capital from rail communication with the United States by burning bridges on the main line of the National Railway near Wadley, in the State of San Luis Potosi. It is believed that they came from Mateahuala, which they recently captured and made a concentration point for the followers of Carranza.
    Directly west from San Luis Potosi, in the State of Zacatecas, there is greatly increased rebel activity. The State capital practically is besieged.
    According to a private message received here, Francisco Vasquez Gomez, after a conference in Las Vacas with Gov. Carranza, is going to Washington as the representative of the rebels. This report is not regarded here as of great importance, as Gomez has no large following.

    EAGLE PASS, Tex., May 9.— Federals under Gen. Casas Lopez are falling back on Saltillo, according to reports received here to-day from Gov. Carranza at Monclova. He said a Constitutionalist column was following the Federals and that more State troops were in their front.

    EL PASO, Tex., May 9.— A formal demand for the surrender of Juarez was received to-day by Col. Juan D. Vasquez, commander of the Federal garrison. The letter was said to have been signed by a Constitutional leader in the field below the Texas border, who asserted that otherwise 1,500 insurgents would attack.
    Special to The New York Times. WASHINGTON, May 9.— The State Department apparently knows nothing of the reported ultimatum of Gen. Huerta that his administration must be recognized formally by the United States it the American Ambassador in the City of Mexico is to continue to be received officially or if any further consideration is to be given to pending American claims against Mexico.
    "All I know of that," said John Bassett Moore, counselor of the Department and Acting Secretary of State in the absence of Secretary Bryan, when the report was called to his attention to-day, "is what I have read in newspapers. We have received nothing of the kind here. I can't discuss a thing I know nothing whatever about."
    The attitude of the United States at this time toward Mexico rests entirely with President Wilson, whose view is well-known. In spite of the demand of President Huerta for formal recognition, the United States will deal with the Huerta government as a de facto and not a de jure authority.
    If the Huerta Administration should become a Constitutional Government, able to maintain itself against all comers for a period that would appear to insure stability, recognition would not be delayed. In the meantime, the delay in adjusting pending claims of citizens of the United States against Mexico is not regarded as consideration sufficient to modify the President's policy.
     The same delay occurred with the Madero Government. The communication of President Huerta will receive scant attention if Ambassador Wilson sends it here.
    Tired of being raided and despoiled by every passing band of brigands, the little American colony in San Dieguito, Mexico, recently took to the warpath. When a band of fourteen outlaws swooped on the colony, ten Americans, reinforced by five Mexican Federal soldiers and a few Mexican civilians, pursued and defeated the looters and recovered several stolen horses.