The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1913-09-05
TEXT OF PRESIDENTS
MESSAGE TO MEXICO
ABSOLUTE NEUTRALITY AND NO
ARMED INTERVENTION Is
POLICY OUTLINED.
TO PROTECT THE AMERICANS

VII, Hold Those In Authority Respon'
sible for Treatment Of Citizens
Of This Country.
Washington.-President Wilson In
person addressed congress on the Mex
lean. situation as follows:
gentlemen Of the congress: 1t Is
clearly my duty to lay before you, very
fully and without reservation. the facts
concerning our present relations with
the republic OF Mexico. The depiora'
bic posture of affairs In Mexico / need
not describe. but deem 1t my duty
to speak very frankly Of what this gov
eminent has done and shall seek to
do in fulfillment Of It's obligation to
Mexico herself. as q friend and neigh.
Dor. and to American citizens whose
lives and vital interests are daily AT
fected by the distressing conditions
which now obtain beyond our south.
ern border.
"These conditions touch US very
nearly. Not merely because they lie
at our very doors; that, OF course,
makes us more vivldly and more con.
stantly conscious Of them, and every
instinct OF neighborly interest and
sympathy is aroused and quickened by
them. but there is only one element
In the determination Of our duty. We
are glad to call ourselves the friends
Of Mexico and we shall, I hope, many
an occasion in happier times, as well
&c In these days Of trouble and con.
fusion, to show that our friendship IL
genuine and disinterested, capable OF
sacrifice and every generous manifes-
tation. The peace. prosperity and con.
tentment OF Mexico mean more. much
more, to US than merely an enlarged
field for our commerce and enterprise.
They mean an enlargement Of tho
field OF self-government and the reali'
xation Of the hopes and rights Of ma
ton with whose best aspirations, so
long suppressed and disappointed, we
deeply sympathize. We shall yet prove
| to the Mexican people that we know
how to serve them without first think
ing how We shall serve ourselves.
Not Only Friends Of Mexico.
"But we are. not the only friends
Of Mexico. The whole world desires
her peace and progress; and the whole
world ia interested as never before
Mexico lies at last where all the
world looks on. Central America Ii
about to be touched by the great
routes of the worlds trade and inter
course running free from ocean t.
ocean at the isthmus. The future hal
much In store for Mexico, as for al
the states Of Central America; bu
the best gifts can come to her only Il
she be ready and free to receive them
and to enjoy them honorably. Amer
ica, in particular-America, North ant
South, upon both continents waits
upon the development Of Mexico, an,
that development can be sound an,
lasting only If It be the product OF ,
genuine freedom, a Just and ordere,
government founded upon law. Onl.
so can 1t be peaceful or fruitful O
the benefits Of peace. Mexico has
! great and enviable future before hel
. II only she choose and attain tn
paths Of honest constitutional govern
ment.
"The present circumstances of tn
! republic l deeply regret TO say, d
not seem to promise even the founds
tons Of such a peace. We have waite
many months. months full of peril an
: anxiety, for the conditions there I
, Improve and they have not improved
, They have grown worse rather. -
|, We offer our good offices. not onl
] because Of our genuine desire to pla
the part Of a friend, but also becaus
we are expected by the powers Of tn
world to act as Mexico's neares
friend.
"The territory in some sort col
/. trolled by the provisional authorize
i at Mexico City has grown smaller, NJ
] larger. The prospect of the pacific,
:. ton Of the country. even by arms, he
. seemed to grow more and more r
!, mote. and It's pacification by any a,
thorities at;the capital is evidently II
possible by any other means ths
force. Difficulties more and more O.
tangle those who claim to constitr
the legitimate government of the r
:, public They have not made goe
their claim, in fact. Their success,
In the field have proved only temp
rary. War and disorder, devastatie
and confusion seem to threaten to b
u come the settled fortune of the al
y tracted country. AS friends we cou
;. wait no longer for a solution whit
% every week seemed further away.
9, was our duty at least to yolunte,
8. our good offices-to offer to assist
we might in effecting in some arrane
ment which would bring relief al