Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1913-02-15
Bismarck, Saturday, February IS.
THE UNITED STATES AND MEX.
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The American policy with reference
to the Mexican situation remains to.
day precisely what it was two years
ago when Madero overcame Porfirio
Diaz and established himself as the
head OF the government. 1t has not
changed during all the vicissitudes Of
the Madero administration. When
Diaz's successor was beset by revolu-
tionists in several quarters this gov
eminent maintained the position that
as long as the lives and property of
Americans were not menaced it would
remain neutral with reference to the
contending forces south Of the Rio
Grande. 1t is true that in the course
of the various uprisings the American
interests in Mexico were menaced
more or less, and several times it APP
peared inevitable hat our forces
should cross the border and restore
orer. In every instance, however, the
Madero government was able to salts
fly the United States of its ability to
maintain itself and to guarantee pro-
lection to aliens.
Now, it would appear that Madero's
government has at last been over
thrown. An insurgent force has sud
denly risen in the capital itself, and
through the accession of a consider
able part Of the army has, at the lat
est accounts, driven the president out
Of his stronghold. This revolt centcrs
around Felix Diaz, nephew Of the
former president, who a few months
ago headed a futile revolt in Vera
Cruz. Young Diaz had been captured,
tried and condemned to death, but his
life was spared as a result Of plead
ings which Madero found it policy to
heed. 1t is believed that Diaz is being
used more or less as a ti%gurehead for
stronger men, who for the present pre-
fer to remain comparatively in the
background until the custer Of Ma
dero is fully accomplished ana the
time has come for reorganization.
However that may be, the situation
as affects the United States is no diff
ferent from that which existed when
Portirio Diaz was overthrow by Ma
dero.
The United States is definitely on
record as demanding the maintenance
in Mexico of a sufficiently stable gov
eminent to guarantee security for Am.
orleans who have acquired interests
there. It's repeated declarations on
this score have not wholly accomplish
ed this result. In the course of the
two years of turmoil large sums have
undoubtedly been lost to the Ameri-
can interests in Mexico. Estimates
Of this amount have been made in
terms of many millions, and doubtless
American lives have been sacrificed
in the course of the fighting. But at
no time has the case reached the acute
point demanding and warranting in
tervention. In this instance the Unit
ed States stands in the position of
grave responsibility. If it should cross
the boundary line into Mexico with
the object of safeguarding American
interests it would have to 60 on to the
point of establishing at Mexico City
some form of administration capable
Of maintaining order in all parts of
the republic. 1t is extremely doubtful
if this could be done in the form of a
wholly Mexican administration, even
under the protection of American
arms. The sole alternative would be
the full assumption by the United
States OF sole responsibility-in other
words, the complete absorption OF
Mexico.
There is no desire in this country
today for Mexican annexation. Far
more to the liking of the American
people would be the establishing at
Mexico City Of . government capable
Of administering affairs soundly, pro
~gressively and peacefully, q Mexican
state strong III all attributes and com
petent to maintain order and to afford