Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1913-09-20
President Reads His Message
On Mexican Situation.
FUTURE POLICY OUTLINED
The United States Will Observe Strict
Non-lnterference, But Will De-
mand Protection for Its Citi-
zens and Their Homes

this nations efforts to bring about
peace in Mexico; the facts concern
ing Huerta's rejection of the peace
proposals and the policy to be pur
sued now by this government in the
following message:
Gentlemen of the Congress: 1t is
clearly my duty to lay before you very
fully, and without reservation, the
facts concerning our present relations
with the Republic of Mexico.
sThe deplorable posture of affairs
in Mexico 1 need not describe, but l
deem it my duty to speak very frank
1y of what this government has done
and should seek TO do in fulfilIment
of its obligation to Mexico herself, as
a friend and neighbor, and to Ameri-
can citizens whose lives and vital in
terests are daily affected by the dis
tressing conditions which now obtain
beyond our southern border.
Ours Genuine Friendship.
These conditions touch us very
nearly. Not merely because they lie
at our very doors. That, of course.
makes us more wildly and more con-
stantly conscious of them, and every
instinct of neighborly interest and
sympathy is aroused and quickened
by them; but that is only one ele-
ment in the determination of our duty.
I'VE are glad to call ourselves the
friends of Mexico and we shall, hope
have many an occasion, in the happier
times as well as in these days of
trouble and confusion, to show that
our friendship is genuine and disin-
terested, capable of sacrifice and every
generous manifestation. The peace.
prosperity and contentment of Mexico
mean more, much more, to us than
merely an enlarged field for our COM
merce and enterprise. They mean an
enlargement of the field of self-gov-'
eminent and the realization of the
hopes and rights of a nation with
whose best aspirations, so long sup
pressed and disappointed, we deeply
sympathize.
1--WE shall yet prove to the Mexican
people that we know how to serve
them without first thinking how-|we
shall serve ourselves.
Just Government Necessary.
But we are not the only friends of
Mexico. The whole world desires her
peace 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 run
ming free from ocean to ocean at the
isthmus.
The future has much in store for
Mexico, as for all the states of Cen
trail 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 particular - America,
North and South and upon both CONT
nents-waits upon the development OF
Mexico, and that development can be
sound and lasting only if it be the
product of a genuine freedom, just
and ordered government, founded upon
law. Only so can it be peaceful or
fruitful of the benefits of peace.
"Mexico has a great and enviable
future before her if only she choose
and attain the paths of honest con-
stitutional government.
1.-The present circumstances of the
republic, / deeply regret to say. do
not seem to promise even the foun-
dation of such peace
Disorder the Only Prospect.
eve 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 provision
al authorities at the City of Mexico,
has grown smaller, not larger. The
prospect of the pacification of the
country, even by arms, has seemed 10
grow more and more remote and its
qualification by the authorities at the
capital is evidently impossible by any
other means than force.
Difficulties more and more entangle
those who claim to constitute the
legitimate government of the republic
They have not made good their claim,
have proved only temporary War
and disorder, devastation and confu-
sion seem to threaten to become the
settled fortune of the distracted coun-
try.
Our Duty to Offer Advice.
As friends we could wait no longer
for solution, which every week seemed
further away. 1t was our duty at least
to volunteer our good offices-to offer
to assist, if we might, in efecting some
arrangement which would bring relief
and peace and set up a universally
: acknowledged political authority there
Accordingly, 1 took the liberty of
sending the Hon. John Lind, formerly
governor of Minnesota, as my personal
spokesman and representative to the
(ifv cf Morian With tho fo1lou-;,,<~