The Washington herald., 1913-08-28
No Reference Is Made to the
Monroe Doctrine, but the
Chief Executive Adheres
Strictly to Spirit of 1t.

~ my uuty TO lay before you, very lully
and without reservation. the facts con-
cerning our present relations with the.
republic Of Mexico. The deplorable
posture of affairs in Mexico. need not
describe, but deem it my duty to speak
very frankly of what this government
has done and should seek TO do in full
fillment of its obligations TO Mexico her
self, as a friend and neighbor and to
American citizens whose lives and vital
interests are daily affected by the dis
tressing conditions which now obtain be-
yond our Southern border.
''Those conditions touch us very nearly.
Not merely because they lie at our very
doors. That, of course, makes il more
vividly and more constantly conscious of
them, and every instinct of neighborly
interest and sympathy is aroused and
quickened by them: but that is only one
element in the determination of our duty.
We are glad to call ourselves the friends
OF Mexico, and we shall, l hope have
many an occasion, in happier times as
well as in these days of trouble and con-
fusion, TO show that our friendship is
genuine and disinterested, capable of
sacrifice and every generous manifesto
uon. The peace, prosperity, and content
ment of Mexico mean more, much more
10 US than merely an enlarged field for
our commerce and enterprise. They mean
an enlargement of the field of self-gov-
ernment and the realization of the hopes
and rights of a nation with whose best
aspira tons, so long suppressed and dis
appointed. we deeply sympathize. We
shall yet prove to the Mexican people
that We know how 10 serve them without
first thinking how We shall serve our
selves.
but we are not the only friends of
Mexico. The whole world desires her
I'eace and progress; and the whole world
is Interested as never before. Mexico
lies at last where all the world looks on
Central America is about to be touched |
by the great routes of the worlds trade |
and intercourse running free from ocean |
10 ocean at the 1Sthmus. The future has /
much in store for Mexico. as for all the !
States OF Central America; but the best /
gifts can come to her only if she be !
ready and free to receive them and TO /
enjoy them honOrably. America in par
tiCular-America North and South and |
upOn both continents-waits upon the |
development of Mexico; and that develop
ment can be sound and lasting only if ii |
ht the product of a genuine freedom. q
Just and ordered government founded
upon law. Only so can il be peaceful or
fruitful of the benefits of peace. Mexic.,
has a great and enviable future before
her. if only she choose and attain the
paths OF honest constitutional govern
lneut.
Conditions Have Grown Worse.
The present circumstances of the re- J.
public, ! deeply regret to say. do not
seem to promise even the foundations CT
such a peace. We have waited many
months, months full of peril and anxiety.
for the conditions there to improve, and
they have not improved. They have
grown worse. rather. The territory in
some sort controlled by the Dovisional !
authorities at Mexico City has grown
smaller, not larger. The prospect of the
paciiiCatiOn of the country, even by
arms, has :eemed 10 grow more and /,
more remote: and its PaciftCatiOn by the .
authorities at the capital is evidently
impossible 10y any other means than Z
force. Difficulties more and more en-
Tamgle those who claim to constitute the
lesitimate government of the republic {
They have not made good their claim in |
TACT. Their successes in the field have
proved only temporary. War and dis c
ogde-. devastation and confusion. seem Z
tC threaten to become the settled fortune q
of the distracted country. As friends {
VIC could wait no longer for a solution
which every week seemed further away. I
IT WIS our duty at least to volunteer @
our good Ofiices-to offer to assist. if we l
might. in effectinS some arrangement
winch would bring relief and peace and
set W a universally acknowledged poliu-
cal authority there" {
President Wilson. at this point :
Gov. Lind's instructions. +
Continuing, he said: y
Mr.. Lind executed his delicate and t
difficult mission with singular tact firm q
l:c~s. and good judgment, and made clear L
10 the authorities at the city of Mexico l
not only the purpose OF his visit but also I
the spirit in which it had been under u
taken. But the proposals he submitted !
We're rejected, in note the full text of '
Which l take the liberty of laying before I
you o
Our Spirit Not Realized.
Il am led to believe that they were o
rejected partly because the authorities at I
Mexico City had been grossly misin- ~
formed and misled upon two points They o
lid not realize the spirit of the Ameri- p
AN people in this matter, their earnest p
'riendliness and yet sober determination !
hat some just solution be found, and v
hey did not believe that the present ad- Il
spoke, through Mr.. Lind, v
or the people of the United States. The Il
fleet of this unfortunate misunderstand- II
ng on their part is to leave them singu- g
arly isolated and without friends who f.
an effectualIy aid them. So long as the b
continues W. can only f
ealization of the actual facts. We can "
rot thrust our good offices upon them S,
rhe situation must be given a little more el
ime to work itself out in the new cir 81
and-I believe that only a S;
little while will be necessary. For the h
are new. The rejection of
)ur friendship makes them new and will
Inevitably bring its own alterations in nj
he whole aspect of affairs. The actual II
situation of the authorities at Mexico in
'ity will presently be revealed.
Meanwhile, what is it out duty to do?
learly, everything that We do must be v,
nd disinterested deliberation Impatience in
n our part would he childish, and would N,
@ fraught with every risk of wrong and a,
oily. We can afford to exercise the self of
estraint of a really great nation which te
caiizes its own strength and scorns to
lisuse it. 1t was our duty to offer our III
cuve assistance. 1t is now our duty to Al
how what true neutrality will do to en- w
Bile the people of Mexico to set their
nairs in order again and wait for a
lrther opportunity to offer our friendly 3
ounsels. The door is not closed against |
he resumption, either upon the initiative
Mexico or upon our own, of the effort
D bring order out of the confusion by |
rlenoly cooperative action, should for
mate occasion offer
Dangers viii Increase,
while We wait the contest of the rival
,rces will undoubtedly for a little while
3 l1r ThT- h1T / I