Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-03-13
The United States and Mexico.

With 10000 troops posted along the
International boundary. on American
SOL. for the purpose of preserving neu-
trsfty and preventing the use Of this
country as source of supplies for
tho sinsurrection now in progress in
Mexico, it is the urgent duty Of this
government to exercise the utmost
care. to prevent any mischance involv
Ing a crossing of the border. Our po-
sition at this iuncture is plain. and as
far as the circumstances are known,
il is approved by the country. The
Monroe doctrine must be maintained
and the neutrality of the United States
as between the Mexican government
and those In revolt against 1T must be
observed. But there is no occasion,
and there should be no excuse for
making one, to enter upon Mexican
soil and thereby precipitate a cam
paign of untold consequences.
There is no thought in the minds of
the American people today of the &C
QUESTION of Mexico. There is no de-
sire to extend our continental terri
tory further in any direction. 1t can
not be believed for a moment that the
country will approve any develop
ment of the precautionary movement
now in progress looking to the as
sumption by the United States of re-
sponsibility for Mexican stability. 1t
must be assumed that Mexico now pos
sesses a stable government, whatever
may develop. IT must furthermore be
assumed that that government is ca
pable of caring for itself In the present
emergency
If conditions should develop to the
point of requiring American interven-
ton. to put an end to an intolerable
situation south of the border seriously
affecting American interests or scan
dalizing the world. the entry Of
American troops upon Mexican soil
should be accompanied by the strong
est possible guarantees of withdrawal
Immediately upon the restoration of
peace. At present such conditions are
not within view. and it is to be hoped
that the government will not permit
any excess of zeal on the part of its
military representatives in Texas to
interpret the situation illogically or
hastily to the end of precipitating in
PREVENTION.
Should the Mexican government ask
the United States to cross the border
to help ii out Of it's embarrassment.
this country could do no less than re-
spond. Should the government at
Mexico City fail to protect American
lives and property and interests south
or the boundary. after urgings and
representations by this country, it
would presumably be the duty of the
United States to intervene Those are
the only conceivable grounds for a de-
parture from the present position of
the United States, which is solely one
or prevention and precaution
The possibility of an American cam
paign in Mexico is distinctly unpleas-
ant to contemplate. 1t would be costly
and protracted. II would make for in
Unite trouble through a long period of
years. 1t would burden the United
States with fresh responsibilities for
which there is no present occasion. 1t
would necessarily weaken the inter-
national prestige of the United States
throughout the world, in that il would
present IL in the guise of an absorber
OF territory under the cloak of a doc
trine prohibiting all other powers from
moving in the same direction. And
mus the present situation is the more
serious in it's possibilities and there
Tore the more carefully to be handled
by the President II will REQUIRE tho
steadiest guidance to hold the lines
now drawn along the border in Texas
intact