The farmer and mechanic., 1913-11-18
RFAI, PROBLEMS IN :
MEXICO FINANCIAL
Country South of Rio Grande, Rich in Natural Resources, /
battle-ground of Gigantic nterests-Amercan Sym
pathies With Leader of Constltionalists ~


loose or corrupt administration OF our
laws. The parallel between Mexico |
and England. as to land tenure. and |
between Mexico and the United States |
as to concessions and exploitation OF
the public domain, is a most illumi-
mating one. -
Backed BY COwdray.
The Huerta- Felix Diaz uprising
against Francisco Madero was un-
doubtedly backed by the COwdray in
terests. They must be rid of MaderO
before he got Congress to annul their
holdings. He was put out Of the way,
and Huerta, the friend and beneficiary
Of the COwdray group, was brought
to the top.
The manner Of doing it, with muir
der and assassination and treason as
chief features, was too raw even for
Mexico. The world was Mortified.
The United States refused to stand for
Huerta
But England promptly recognized
him. Why? Because, as is now al
most universally believed, of the Cow
dray influence in British politics
Cowdrays oil interests have been
very close to the British admiralty
They are like old Jay Gould, who de-
scribed himself as a Republican in
Republican districts, a Democrat in
Democratic districts. and always for
the Erie. Cowdray doesn't care
| what party rules in Britain; he wants
it on his side. He convinced the
present admiralty. whose head is Win
ston Churchill, that the British navy
must go in for oil-burning battleships
and cruisers. They were necessary TO
keep the British navy up to the high
est efficiency. But where to get the
oil?
| Mexico the Source.
That was easy. Cowdrays conces-
sions in Mexico would furnish it.
| There was enough to last for centu
ries and centuries. 1t would never do
| for England'S navy to be dependent
on oil from the United States, nor on
oil from any other party of the world
| that was controlled by the American
Standard Oil group. Therefore, the
] British government must back Cow
dray in making good his Mexican con-
cessions and in developing them il
order that it might be insured per-
petual naval fuel supply independent
Of any American interest.
Does it begin to clear? Winston
Churchill committed himself to the
project: not avowing all these infer
entail aspects, but giving the Cow
dray oil interests a huge contract to
provide oil for his navy. The British
foreign Office demonstrated it's COM
plete acQuiescence in the plan, by hur-
rying to recognize Huerta, and then
by sending to Mexico an Ambassa dor
who has shown himself in thorough
sympathy. with Huerta and Cowdray.
and in opposition to the Washington
government.
The war Of the oil giants was orig
inally between Cowdray and the Wa
terS-Pierce Company, subsidiary OF
: Standard Oil. But the processes OF
antitrust litigation and Of falling
out between Henry Clay Pierce and
the Standard insiders resulted in
Pierces getting complete control Of
the Waters-Pierce Company and be-
coming on his own account, the chief
antagonist Of Cowdray in Mexico.
The Standard Oil group proper has
been trying hard to strengthen itself
: in Mexico, and has important hold
}. ings; but as yet it is rather less i'm
portant than the Pierce group, ant
g decidedly inferior to the Cowdray ele
q ment. Pierce was friend Of the Ma
deros, and today he is regarded as
supporter of the Carranza Constitu
e tionalists. Both the american oil in
terests recognize that if Huerta get
control Of the country. Cowdray will
. be the ruling figure In its realm of oil
: and nowhere in the known world
g there so much oil richness as il
Q Mexico.
II International Play.
!. Thus, in effect, there is great in
e ternational play. for the empire of oil
Britain backing its one chance to 81
cure an independent oil supply. an
e the United States opposing the Brit
= ish program. 1t is easy to understan
IS why. in this analysis, Germany can b
l. counted upon with all confidence t
IS refrain from alliance with Englan
q against the United States; German
q doesn't care to lend it's diplomatic al
:; to the pleasant project of vastly in
le creaSing the power of Britain's navy
There could be no greater mista
It. than to assume that the WashingtO
e. government is giving its support
ze the Standard Oil or the Pierce lnte.
l2 ests as q primary consideration. IT
le doing.nothing Of the kind; it is merel
d. taking the position that is dictated
d. ,,art by the attitude OF the Britis
ke government and in part-much TT
ry larger part. tOo-by considerations
as simple humanity and honest conc e,
for the people of Mexico.