The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1913-08-28

to us to be conditioned on:
"'(a)---An immediate cessation OF
lighting throughout Mexico, a definits
armistice solemnly entered into and
scrupu1ously observed;
"'(b)-Security given for an earis
and free election in which all VIII
agree to take part;
-"'(c) - The consent of General
Huerta to bind himself not to be Q
candidate for election as president oj
of the republic at this election; and g
"'(d)-The agreement of all parties
to abide by the results of the electiors
an cooperate in the most loyal way,
in organizing and supporting the new
administration.
1.-The government Of the United
States will be glad to play any part
in this settlement or in It's carrying
out which it can play honorably anG
consistently with international right
1t pledges itself to recognize and In
every way possible and proper assist
the administration in the way and on
the conditions suggested.
"'Taking all the existing conditions
into consideration, the government OF
the United States can conceive Of nc
reasons sufficient to justify those who
are now attempting to shape the
policy or exercise the authority Of
Mexico in declining the offices OF
friendship thus offered. Can Mexico
give the civilized world a satisfactory
reason for rejecting our good officesi
II Mexico can suggest any better way;
In which to show our friendship serve
the people of Mexico and meet our
international obligations, we are more
than willing to consider the sug-
gestion.'
Executed Mission With Tact.
"Mr. Lind executed his delicate mad
difficult mission with singular tact
firmness and good judgment, and made
clear to the authorities at the City Of
| Mexico not only the purpose Of his
visit. but also the spirit in which it
had been undertaken. But the propos-
ais he submitted were rejected, in
note the full text of which l take the
liberty of laying before you; 4
II am led to believe that they were
rejected partly because the authorities
at Mexico City had been grossly mis-
informed and misled upon two points.
| They did not realize the spirit of the
American people in this matter, their
earnest friendliness and yet sober de-
| termination for some just solution for
| the Mexican difficulties; and they did
tration spoke through Mr.. Lind for the
people of the United States. 49,
"The effect of this unfortunate mis-
understanding on their part is to leave
them singularly isolated and without
friends who can effectually aid them.
so long as the misunderstanding con-
| ttnues we can only await the time OF
their awakening to the realization of
the actual facts. We cannot thrust
our good offices upon them; the situa-
ton must be given a little more time
to work itself out in the new circum-
stances and believe that only little
while will be necessary. For the cir
cumstances are new. The rejection OF
our friendship makes them new and
will inevitably bring it's own altera-
tions in the whole aspect of affairs.
The actual situation of the authorities
at Mexico City will presently be re-
vealed.
What Duty of U. S. Is.
MEANWHILE what is our duty to do?
Clearly everything that we do must be
rooted in patience and done with calm
and disinterested deliberation. Impa-
tience on our part would be childish
and would be fraught with every risk
OF wrong and folly. We can afford to
exercise the selfrestraint of a really
great nation which realizes its own
strength and scorns to misuse 1t. It
was our duty to offer our active as.
| sistance. 1t is now our duty to show
what true neutrality will do to enable
the people of Mexico to set their Of
fairs in order again and wait for fur
ther opportunity to offer our friendly
counsels. The door Is not closed
against the resumption, either upon
the initiative of Mexico or upon our
own, Of the effort to bring order out
Of the confusion by friendly cooper
ative action, should fortunate occasion
offer
while we wait the contest of the
rival forces will undoubtedly for lit
tie while be sharper than ever, just be-.
cause 1T will be plain that an end must
be made Of the existing situation and
that very promptly: and with the in
creased activity Of the contending fac
tions will come, it is to be feared, in
creased danger to the non -combatants
In Mexico as well as to those actually
In the field Of battle. The position of
outsiders Is always particularly trying
and full of hazard where there is civil
strife and a whole country is upset &
We should earnestly urge all Ameri-
cans to leave Mexico at once and
should assist them to get away in ev--
cry way possible not because we would
mean to slacken in the least our efforts
to safeguard their lives and interests
but because 1t Is imperative that they
should. take no unnecessary risks when
1t Is physically possible for them to
leave the country. We should let ev-
eryone who seems to exercise author
ity in any part of Mexico know in the
1ost unequivocal way that we shall
vigilantly watch the fortunes of those
Americans who cannot get away, and
shall hold them responsible for their.
sutTerings and losses to a definite reck-
oning. That can and will be made
plain beyond the possibility of a mis-
understanding.
Duty to Exercise Authority. sTf'
For the best I deem 1t my duty to
| exercise the authority conferred upon
me by the law Of March IA, 1912, to see
| to 1t that neither side of the struggle
now going on in Mexico receives any
assistance from this side Of the border.
l shall follow the best practice of na-'
| tions in the matter Of neutrality by for
bidding the expectation of arms OF
munitions Of war of any kind from the
United States to any part of the re-j
public of Mexico--a policy suggested
/ by several interesting precedents and
| lcertainly dictated by many manifest
considerations of practical expediencyr
| We cannot in the circumstances be thsa
partizans Of either party to the contest
| that now distracts Mexico or consti-s
tute ourselves the virtual umpire be-t
tween them. @
'I am happy to say that several Oh
4 the great governments of the world
have given this government their gem
erous moral support in urging upon the
provisional authorities at the City OF
AHn~.s 4I~z. .s,n 4Es