The Washington herald., 1913-02-14
BARRETT Wants
COMMISSION TO
SETTLE TROUBLE
Director of Pan-American Un.
ion Writes to President Taft
Relative to Mexico.
PERSONNEL SUGGESTED
Communication in No Way Is an
Official One of the
Union.

Being unalterably opposed to American
Intervention in Mexico and being inspired
with an earnest desire to find some
means acceptable to the Mexican people.
as well as to the American government,
which would bring about immediate ces-
sation of hostilities in Mexico John Bar
rett, director general OF the Pan-Amer-
lean Union, has been in continual con-
sultation the last few days with Senators,
Representatives, prominent MeXicans and
others vitality interested in the question
with a view to formulating a plan to be
submitted to the President and the chair
men OF the foreign committees OF the
Senate and House, intended to bring
about the desired results.
Letter to President.
The letter which Mr. Barrett sent TO
President Taft last night says in part:
81 have the honor to submit, most re-
spectfully, a suggestion, long and care
fully considered. which may provide an
immediate solution for the present critf-
cal phase of the Mexican problem.
while what is recommended is pro-
posed personally on my own responsible
ity. without involving officially in any
way the Pan-American Union or the
members OF its governing board, it still
is inspired by the fact and thought that
/ am an officer of Mexico and of all
the other Latin-American governments,
as well as OF the United States, and
that 1 see this great question from the
standpoint OF our sister republics and
their peoples. as well as from the stand
point of the United States Government
and its people
AS should be known. I have stood
from the first, and still stand. emphatic
ally and conscientiousIy against inter
Vention in Mexico, because / recognize,
from my intimate knowledge of the Mex
ican and Latin-American governments
and peoples, based on many years of
experience as a United States Minister
10 Latin American countries and as the
executive officer of the Pan-American
Union, that MexicO's rights as an Inde-
pendent sovereign nation are regarded
by the MeXicans and all other sixty mill
lions OF Latin-AmeTicans as being just
as sacred and inviolate as our own ma
tional rights and sovereignty, and that
the harm done to the prestige, the good
name. influence and commerce of the
United States throughout all Latin
America by unwarrantetd or hasty In
tervention would intellectually and ire
parably outweigh any possible good
which might result from such interven-
ton / would add, moreover. in this con-
nection that the United States Govern
ment has won the respect and admira-
tion of all Latin-America because it |
has SO far stood steadfastly against in
tervention. despite powerful influence to
the contrary.
Realizing. however. that a condition of
extraordinary seriousness has now arisen.
in which, no matter how much as a
L.atin-American sympathizer and defend
er may deplore its being done, the
United States may decide TO take action
beyond anything that it has yet done. e.!
beg TO outline a plan which may be
uvnr nF NJ aln
1T involves mediation. rather than in
tervention; international American CO..
operation. rather than individual United
States action. and practical applica-
tion OF the Pan-American, rather than
of the Monroe doctrine.
SuRgests Bryan or Root.
In a word. the suggestion is that
thro"5h the initiative of the United |
States government an international COM
mission shall be Immediately named, con- |
Sisting of one of the most available !
statesmen Of the United States. such as
Elihu Root or William J. Bryan; some |
eminent Latin-American diplomat now |
in Washington. representing a govern |
ment sufficiently remote from the United |
States and Mexico 20 have no prejudices !
and yet be kindly disposed toward both. |
and at the same time arouse no jeal- |
ousies among the other Latin-American |
countries. like Senior Don IgnaclO Cald- |
eron Minister of Bolivia. or DR.. Carlos !
Maria de Pena, Minister of Uruguay, and |
some correspondingly distinguished and |
influential Mexican, like Senior Don |
Francisco de la Barra, late provisional
President of Mexico and former Ambas- |
sador to the United States. or Senior Don
Joaquin d. Casasus, former Ambassador |
to the United States, who shall inYest- |
gate the whole situation in Mexico on |
the ground and endeavor to compose il |
and make recommendations to Mexico
which shall readjust the situation In |
favor of permanent peace and stability; |
that the President of the United States