Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1912-03-07
PRESIDENT TAFT
MAKES MISTAKE
Evil Effect Of .sIIl-tine Warning for 'Amerl-
cans to L'ars Msrise. .sA0En In
Press dispatches.


The gravity of the situation in Nexi-
co caused President Taft on last Satur-
day to issue = proclamation virtually
warning American citizens to refrain
from entering that country and those
who are now residents there to leave
when conditions become intolerable.
Ihe decision to issue such q warning
was reached at q special meeting of the
cabinet held Saturday for the purpose
OF considering the Mexican situation
with relation TO Americans there.
The proclamation was augmented by
telegram addressed to the state de-
partment to Ambassador Wilson in the
city OF Mexico. The ambassador was
instructed to inform Americans in peril
there to withdraw across the border
leaving their effects in the care Of the
nearest United States consul. Copies
OF the telegram were sent also to all
consular agents.
President Taft's utterance was in no
sense recognition of the revolutionary
movement in the sister republic, and
was declaration of neutrality. 1t was
declared the utterance was solely a
warning to Americans to avoid any,
thing that might SAVIOR of partisanship
in the existing state of affairs. The
proclamation which is interpreted fur
ther as an expression of this countrY's
intention to avoid by every possible
means any chance of intervention.
After calling attention to the disturb
ed condition in Mexico and the United
States laws prohibiting American citi-
zens from participating in any of these
disturbances, together with the penal
ties for their infraction, the President
said:
- do hereby admonish all to refrain
from every violation of the laws and
warn them that all violations will be
vigorously prosecuted" He enjoined
all United States officers to use the
greatest diligence in preventing viola
tions, and givee notice that any persons
violating the laws will do so at their
peril and can In no way obtain protec-
ton Of the United States.
The instructions to consuls notifies
them to warn Americans to withdraw
from dangerous localities, leaving their
effects with the consuls.
The effect of this ill-timed warning of
the President was well known to those
familiar to the bluster and brap of the
treacherGus mixed races of Mexico, and
confirmation came early in the press dis
patches sent out from the Mexican cap
ital, saying that, despite the assur-
ances that the proclamation was de-
signed to help the Americans it has hsd
the opposite effect, making the natives
say: Get out; you are not wanted here
by your Government or oursv'
The Mexicans torture the Washing
ton news into orders for Americans to
get out Of Mexico or take the conse-
quences, and believe the Americans will
not be protected if they remain in that
country. The consequence is that an
immense amount of mischief will follow
the Washington notice and Americans
will suffer-
Ambassador Wilson is preparing a
note warning Americans to leave dan
gerous localities, such as Chihuahua,
Coahulla, Morelos, part of Vera Cruz
and half a dozen other states The
Americans in those states have enor-
nous interests which are bound to 20 to
smash If they obey Washington's or
ders. There has been a great EXODUS
OF American women and children from
Mexico in the last few days, and all
trains to the United States have been
crowded. Undoubtedly this proclama-
tion will send out hundreds more imme-
diately.
1t is estimated American capital in
vested in those Mexican states that are
| designated by Ambassador Wilson as
unsafe is more than $500, ,000, 900. Many
are disobeying the proclamation, fear
ing to leave their property interests.
Is 1t any wonder that foreigners have
only contempt for a country that does
not protect its people and their property
abroad, but instead, warns them to fiy
for safety at the first sign of danger?