It is pointed out that the acceptance
of the Huerta government both of
good offices and of the armistice was
in complete force, so that the retire
ment of Portillo was construed by
the mediators as being merely the
change of one man, and not of great
significance to the main issues.
Outside the mediation conference
the bearing of the Runz appointment
caused widespread speculation.
The fact that he had been men
tioned as probable Huerta commis
sioner in case the mediators proposed
a commission to settle the entire
trouble led to the belief that Ruiz
would pursue the same friendly pol
icy that Portillo had shown.
But in some quarters it was felt
that Huerta himself was directing af
fairs with a strong hand and that
Ruiz was more amenable to Huerta's
direction than Portillo had been.
It was pointed out that according
to the Mexican constitution the min
ister of foreign affairs succeeded to
the presidency in case of the presi
dent's retirement, when there is no
vice president, as is the case now
in Mexico. Hence Portillo was next
in line for the presidency and Ruiz is
now in that position.
ARMY TO RULE VERA CRUZ
Civil Officials Are Replaced by Amer
ican Military Officers.
Washington, May 2.—Secretary Gar
rison announced his intention of re
moving all the civil officials at
Yera
Cruz, replacing them with army offi
cers. Mr. Garrison said no reflection
was intended on the men already
chosen, as he did not know any of
them, but it was customary under
military occupation for all officers to
be directly responsible to the war de
parts idnt.
