The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-03-19
WAR THAT WAS UNNECESSARY.
MEXICAN WAR COULD HAVE BEEN
AVOIDED, SAYS COL. GREEN.

A Little Diplomacy on the Part OF
The United states Would Have
Prevented War and Secured to
This Country Even Greater Advan-
tages Than Were Later Obtained
An Embassy to Mexico Would Have
Appeased the Wounded Feelings
of the Mexicans and strengthened
the Hands of Herrera, the Patriot
Leader.
An interview with Col Ben E. Green,
which appeared in the Morning News sew
eral days ago, in which he briefly narrated
some of his diplomatic experiences in
Mexico over fifty years ago, was read
with general interest. Col Green, it will
be remembered, was left in charge of the
American embassy in Mexico at a very
critical time, when war was threatening
between the United States and that coun-
try and when the sentiment of the Next
can people was very unfriendly to their
Northern neighbors. Santa Anna was in
power while Herrera, a patriot and
statesman, who desired friendship with
the United States, was seeking his over
throw.
In speaking of this publication, Co.
Green said he thought it was wei for pub
lie Information, as well as in justice to
himself, TO explain more fully the position
taken by him with reference to the diff
culties between the United States and
Mexico.
Like President Diaz,' said Col Green,
Herrera was an unselfsh patriot, seek
ing only the welfare of his country Any
display on my part of intimacy with MIN
would have furnished Santa Annals part-
Fans weapon for his overthrow. Through
the Padre Orsoui, then popularity recog-
nized as the immediate representative in
Mexico of the Pope, and Mr.. Dacogne,
an American merchant long resident in
Mexico, l urged upon Herrera that Mex
ico's relation to her distant northern
provinces was analogous to that of many
men, who were kept land-poor by heavy
taxes on unproductive lands. with no pros
pect of any increase of productivity or rise
IN price, Neither by native increase nor
foreign immigration could Mexico hope to
populate them for many centuries to come.
Meanwhile they would remain harbor for
wild and hostile Indians. Wise practical
craftsmanship suggested their sale to the
United States.
Gov. Shannon of Ohio was appointed
resident minister to succeed Waddy
Thompson, and after considerable delay
came to Mexico. Soon thereafter the
United States revenue cutter Woodbury.
was at Vera Cruz. On consultation with
Gov. Shannon we thought it best that l
should seize that opportunity for a trip
to Washington city TO inform President
Tyler and Secretary of State Calhoun of
m ri Of ell Hon in ion
rather than trust them to the mails, even
in cipher. The most important of these
was that revolution was brewing, which
would bring into power Herrera, anxious
to cultivate kindly relations and to settle
all questions by peaceful negotiations. l
had expected to hasten back to my post
in Mexico; but President Tyler and Mr..
Calhoun decided that as Mr.. Polk was to
take the reins in a few days, courtesy
to him required that l should wait in
Washington until after his inauguration,
report to and take instructions from him.
The revolution in Mexico came as ex-
pected. Herrera was President; Gen. Aris-
ia his Secretary of War. l. d. Marks
had lived long in Matamoras, a prominent
merchant and United States consul. He
and Arsta were neighbors, friends and
compadreS-that is to say, Marks was
godfather to Arista's children-in Mexico
a close tie. Herrera and Arista sent
Marks TO Washington to see me, and
through me to explain that, in the then
temper of the Mexican mind, they could
not receive a minister resident, as if moth
ing had happened by the annexation OF
Texas to wound the honor and dignity
of Mexico without risk of a counter rev.
olution. But, if the United States gov
eminent would send an ambassador, or,
better still a special commission of two
or more of their best known statesmen,
Herrera's administration could reconcile
their people to the reception of such an
embassy or commission, and speedily pre-
pare them to expect and accept the re-
suits of such negotiations; when every
thing could be arranged as the United
States government desired.
Together we marks and y, saw Sec
rotary Buchanan and President Polk. We
explained the situation in Mexico; the de-
sire Of Herrera and Arista to resume
diplomatic relations, which had been
broken by the annexation of Texas. Their
willingness to recognize the Rio Grande
as the proper boundary of Texas. ana to
cede as much more of the northern prov
inces as the government OF the Unlted
States might desire. We dwelt on the GER
tainty of a counter revolution, II they
should venture to receive a minister resi-
dent, as if nothing had happened to In
terrupt diplomatic relations. Two or three
days thereafter Mr.. Slidelfs appointment
and departure for Mexico was announced.
His commission was that of minister
resident.
There were some, who vehemently in
sisted that to send an ambassador or spe-
cial commission, as urged by Herrera and
Arista, would be tantamount to an ad-
mission that this government had wronSed
Mexico by the recognition Of the independ-
ence Of Texas and its subsequent anneXa-
lion. That being the point of contention,
the United States ought not. to stultify
themselves, in reopening negotiations,
with a plea of guilty l thought then,
and think now, that the refusal to grant
Herrera's request was a diplomatic blum
der.
Now, the same kind of laundering has
involved us in a war with the Fiipinos.
II we can get out of it as speedily ana
with &c ernnll lnss Of lives and rnnnnN a