Doubt Lind's Success Now.

New York Times 100 years ago today, August 6, 1913:
Huerta Once Willing to Retire in Return for Recognition.
Special to The New York Times.
    WASHINGTON, Aug. 5.— Although there is a disposition here among public men of all parties to wish success to ex-Gov. John Lind of Minnesota in his mission to Mexico as President Wilson's personal representative and mediator, the feeling prevails that the circumstances of his appointment and the character of the plan he has to present will serve to bring him into antagonism with the Huerta Government at the very outset of his work and make what he will seek to accomplish exceedingly difficult.
    The doubt as to the ability of Mr. Lind to settle the Mexican situation in accordance with the Administration's plan, outlined in a Washington dispatch in The Times to-day, is held by men who are acquainted with previous efforts in the same direction proposed by Henry Lane Wilson, whose resignation from the office of Ambassador to Mexico was accepted yesterday on account of disagreements with the President and State Secretary Bryan over the means that should be employed to pacify Mexico. Details of Ambassador Wilson's recommendations gradually are coming to light. One of the most important proposals made by him to the Wilson Administration became known to-day as a result of the belief that Mr. Lind had been sent to the Mexican city as a special personal representative.

Envoy Wilson's Offer.
    The Ambassador, it was learned, had informed Secretary Bryan in a dispatch from Mexico City that he would be able to guarantee that a fair constitutional election for President would be held and that President Huerta would not be a candidate. That guarantee, it is understood, was contingent on recognition of the Huerta Government. The offer from the Ambassador was not accepted by the Administration. Mr. Wilson's plan, it was said to-day by men acquainted with the details, contemplated the appointment of Manuel Calero, ex-Ambassador to Washington, as Minister of Gobernacion or Administration. The Minister of Gobernacion has full control of all the election machinery. Mr. Wilson is credited with professing to have knowledge that Señor Calero would insure the holding of a fair election and the choice of a President by constitutional means.
    In view of the rejection of the Ambassador's proposal, Mr. Lind, according to men more or less intimately acquainted with the inside of the Mexican situation, is likely to receive little encouragement in his effort to have President Huerta voluntarily eliminate himself from the situation in a promise not to be a candidate for another term and agree to the appointment of a Minister of Gobernacion acceptable to Mr. Lind. The time for bringing about such an arrangement is believed by certain well-informed persons here to have passed.
    One opinion expressed to-day was that the President of Mexico might confound his enemies and embarrass the United States by resigning office before the constitutional elections in October, and thus make himself eligible to be chosen President. Under the Mexican constitution a President of Mexico is not eligible for re-election if he retains office at the time the election is held. There is a strong belief here that Huerta will adopt this course, and the opinion was expressed that he would have an excellent chance of election.
    Should Huerta resign the Presidency now, he would be succeeded ad interim by Señor Gamboa, who is on his way to Mexico City to become Minister for Foreign Affairs of Mexico. Since the resignation of Francisco de la Barra and his departure from Mexico City for Europe Señor Aldape, the Minister of Fomento, has been acting as the head of the Foreign Office. Ex-Ambassador Calero is in Mexico City. It was asserted here to-day that his choice as Minister of Gobernacion would insure a fair election in October.

Calero Deceived Taft.
    Señor Calero made a speech shortly after his recent return to Mexico City, in which he was quoted as having indicated very broadly that he purposely had misrepresented the Mexican situation to President Taft. Since then, however, he has said things complimentary to the United States and Americans, and is regarded as a good friend of this Government.
    Diplomatic experts here to-day said that the plan of bringing peace to Mexico, which Mr. Lind was instructed to execute if possible, in reality was based on a form of intervention and not mediation. That plan, according to the experts, contemplates a suspension of hostilities pending the election of a President and Congress, with the understanding that the United States will recognize the Government chosen. The effort to have President Huerta resign is regarded as a side issue or the plan.
    Mediation is the effort of a neutral party to endeavor to have hostile factions harmonize their differences, but it is asserted that President Wilson's plan goes beyond the scope of what is understood to be an offer of mediatory offices. There were intimations to-day that it was intended to bring pressure to bear on the Huertistas and the Constitutionalistas to have them consent to make peace, and there was a suggestion — not confirmed officially, however— that the desire of European Governments having large interests in Mexico that the Mexican troubles be brought to an end would be utilized as a reason for the effort of the United States to restore normal conditions.
    A report was current in Washington to-night that Ambassador Wilson had requested Secretary Bryan to disclaim responsibility for a published statement that ex-Gov. Lind had been sent to Mexico because this Government needed a strong man there. The statement intimated that Mr. Wilson was not regarded as having the necessary qualities to represent the United States in the Mexican capital. No direct confirmation of the report could be obtained, but the rumor persisted that Sir. Bryan had been notified that if a disclaimer of responsibility were not forthcoming from him, the Ambassador would make a statement of his own in answer to the intimation.

Welcome for Mexicans.
    At the request of Secretary Bryan, instructions were sent by Secretary McAdoo to the customs officials of the Port of New York to extend to several Mexican officials soon to arrive there the courtesies usually shown to diplomatic representatives of foreign Governments. Señor de la Barra, the Mexican Minister to France; Carlos Pereyra, a former member of President Huerta's Cabinet, who is going to Belgium as Minister, and Señor Palacio, Secretary of Legation in Paris, are on their way to New York on the steamer Morro Castle, on the way to their posts abroad.
    This Government always is punctilious in extending all necessairy courtesies to representatives of foreign Governments, and the attention that will be shown to the foreign diplomats is not unusual, except that it comes at a time when diplomatic relations between the United States and Mexico are suspended. Mexico has no Ambassador in Washington, and with the resignation of Ambassador Wilson the United States has no representative of his rank in the Mexican capital.
    When asked for an explanation this afternoon Secretary Bryan declined to discuss the subject. It was said, however, that this Government desired to manifest a spirit of friendliness toward Mexicans notwithstanding the lapse of relations between the countries.

Would Recognize Belligerents.
    Recognition of "a state of public war in Mexico" and of American neutrality between the "belligerents" was demanded in a resolution to-day by Representative Stephens, Democrat, of Texas. It would repeal the neutrality law prohibiting exportation of arms to Mexico. No action was taken, and the resolution was referred to the Rules Committee.
    Another resolution by Mr, Stephens, proposing a commission to attempt a settlement of Mexican affairs, is pending.
    The resolution introduced to-day asserts there is not now in Mexico "any established Government worthy of recognition by the United States."
    President Wilson has been informed unofficially of the support of Republicans of the House in his Mexican programme, so long as a non-partisan attitude is maintained. Assurances to the President were conveyed from Republican Leader Mann. At both ends of the Capitol there have been informal agreements to keep the Mexican question out of politics.