New-York tribune., 1911-03-23
Mr.. TAFT NOT ALARMED
BY POLITICAL ATTACKS
Believes the American People
Will Approve His Mex
lean Policy.
PRECAUTIONS TO CONTINUE
Neutrality Laws Will Be Strictly
Enforced Along the Border
No Intention to Humll-
late Mexico.
,,..o,, TIC T-ihunc Hnrcau. J

~
,..o, March 92-President Ial' u
- s,,ne,rod over tho attack on HIM
81, senator La toilette in connection "u'
"H .u,,a,,o, of troops in Texas nor
a., he believe that the partisan a''scN'
,>..,o,ra,s 4, tho coming Congress
-. he ,emrted 10 make Will produce any
effect other than 20 draw oo""
,h,roselyes. II they prove 50 un"ise ~ w
Weld - such temptation Inc "''''"'o
so,ator Ia Toilette Is Of course. clearly
.,,aor,,ood His political ambitions arc
.r.h .. IN blind him 10 the disadvantages
o. arv course which he believes or "'p1,,
url in,rre President Taft. but that he VIII
succeed only in demonstrating 10 8'' '''''
ill.,, observers the extent Of his personal
snin1osity is the conviction OF thoS' "no
have the political fortunes Of this adrn'h'S-
fration al heart
President Taft docs not believe that Ue
American people Will ever severely criuclSc
an Executive who takes prompt measures
10 rrotect American lives and American
property. and that IS precisely what INC
administration has done in the case o'
Mexico. As has been said In these diS-
ratches, " Mexico proves able 10 arrange
It's own difficulties and restore peace ana
tranquility. no one will be more pleaseu
than the United States. and especially
President Taft. but the conditions in that
republic are such Us 10 indicate the neceS-
atty Of taking precautions, and those pre-
cautions have been taken. Nor viii the
troops modified IN Texas be withdrawn
before the first Of July, nor then unless
the present threatening conditions have
ended. OF course. President Taft has no
desire 20 humiliate Mexico. On the con-
frary, he is anxious TO show every con-
siderston for that country, as indeed lie
did when he withdrew tho naval patrol,
hut he takes the view that his first duty
IS 70 Americans. OF whom there are up
ward Of 7o,000 In Mexico, 20 say nothing Of
the extensive property interests which
would no seriously imperlled by a general
uprising In the republic.
Apparently an effort has been made to
confuse the public mind with regard 10
,he extent 70 which this government car
enforce tho neutrality laws by the cita-
ZION of certain decisions of the Supreme
court with regard TO the expectation of
arms. ammunition. etc. In the absence of
recognized helligerenCy in Mexico. and the
rromuiga tion OF a proclamation of ncu-
trality ny this country, the expectation of
arms and ammunition 10 Mexico. as
part of. the commerce between the two
countries, cannot he forbidden. But that
refers only 10 arms and ammunition ex-
rorted rs . part of the regular commerce
between tho two countries. What the
army along the frontier can and will do
Is 20 prevent tho indiscrimnate carrying
of arms aud ammunition across the
Cr-Ir 7, hoe to .1 1ol,, &C
tho administration that Mexican insur-
gents have been in the habit of bearing
aims against the Mexican government,
rushing across the border and concealinc
their arms temporarily in this country
urpursuod. and then going back TO CON
Cucj further hostilities when the regular
Mexican troops had gone elsewhere. Then,
too. large quantities of arms and ammu-
milton have been taken into Mexico. not
as duly ordered shipments through the
regular ports Of entry. but as the per-
Sonal arms OF bands of insurgents. each
man carving a gun and several rounds
o. ammunition.
When the army encounters such at
tempts il Will treat the bands so csrry-
Ing arms as raiders against friendly
government. and their arms will he con-
fsCdted. as Will. indeed, all which may DO
temporarily carried across the boundary
into this country. and which. technically,
will he nothing less than smuggled fire.
arms. clearly subject TO confiscation.
With regard TO the maintenance Of the
manruvre division in Texas attention is
called 20 the fact that II costs no more,
and even rather less. 10 maintain the
army in the field than At its regular posts.
The only extra cost has been for trans
rortation. The practice which the troops
ere getting. and will continue TO enjoy, IS
highly beneficial, and the moral effect Of
their presence, in bringing home TO the
Mexican authorities the necessity OF
taking prompt and effective steps to check
the disorders within their boundaries. IS
regarded as farreaching and Of the utmost
Importance.