Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1913-09-05

conditions in Central America. 1t Is upon
no common occa sion, therefore. that the
United States offers her counsel and as
sistance. All America cries out for a
settlement
Wilson's Demands.
"A satisfactory settlement seems to
us to be conditioned on:
"'(a) An immediate cessation o. fight
ing throughout Mexico, a definite armis-
tice solemnly entered into and scrupu-
lously observed.
"'(b) security given for an early and
free election, in which all will agree to
take part.
"'(c) The consent OF General Huerta to
bind himself not to be a candidate for
election as president of the republic at
this election and
"'(d) The agreement OF all parties to
abide by the results OF the election and
cooperate in the most loyal way in
organizing and supporting the new ad-
ministration.
THE government Of the United States
will be glad to play any part in this set
tlement or in its carrying out which II
can play honorably and consistently with
international right. 1t pledges itself to
recognize and in every way possible and
proper to assist the administration chos-
en- and set up in Mexico in the way and
on the conditions suggested
"'Taking all the existing conditions into
consideration, the government of the
United States can conceive of no reasons
sufficient to justify those who are now
attempting to shape the policy or exer-
else the authority of Mexico in declining
the offices of friendship thus offered. Can
Mexico give the civilized world a salts
factory reason for rejecting our good
offices? If Mexico can suggest any bet
ter way in which to show our friend
ship serve the people of Mexico and
in ttnna1 oh1iun tiOnS
are more than willing to consider the
suggestions
What Is Our Duty?
Meanwhile, what is 1t our duty to do7
Clearly, everything that we do must be
rooted in patience and done with calm
and disinterested delibera ton. Impatience
on our part would be childish, and would
be fraught with every risk of wrong and
folly. We can afford to exercise the self
restraint of really great nation, which
realizes it's own strength and scorns to
misuse It, 1t was our duty to offer our
active assistance. It is now our duty to
show what true neutrality will do to en-
able the people of Mexico to set their
affairs in order again and wait for
further 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 ef-
| fort to bring order out of the confusion
| by friendly cooperative action, should
! fortunate occasion offer.
while we wait the contest of the rival
| forces will undoubtedly for little while
| be sharper than ever, just because 1t will
| be plain that an end must be made of the
existing situation and that very prompt
| ly; and with the increased activity of
the contending factions will come, 1t Is
| to be feared, increased danger to the nom
combatants in Mexico as well as to those
actually in the field of battle. The po-
sition of outsiders is always particularly
trying and full Of hazard where there
is civil strife and whole country Is
upset.
Urges Americans to Leave.
I'VE should earnestly urge all Ameri-
| cans to leave Mexico at once and should
assist them to get away In every way
| possible-not because we would mean to
slacken in the least our efforts to safe
guard their lives and their interests.
but because it is imperative that they
should take no unnecessary risks when 1t
is physically possible for them to leave
4 the country. We should let every one
who assumes to exercise authority in any
part of Mexico know in the most un-
equivocal way that we shall vigilantly
watch the fortunes of those Americans
who cannot get away, and shall hold
those responsible for their sufferings and
losses to definite reckoning. That can
be and will be made plai- beyond the
possibility of a misunderstanding.
For the rest, deem IL my duty 10
exercise the authority conferred upon
me by the law of March IA, 1912, to see
to it that neither side to the struggle
now going on in Mexico receive any as
sistance from this side of the border.
shall follow the best practice of nations
in the matter of neutrality by forbid
ding the expectation of arms or munitions
of war of any kind from the United
States to any part of the republic of
Mexico.
I'VE cannot in the circumstances be
the partisans of either party to the con-
test that now distracts Mexico or con-
stitute ourselves the virtual umpire be-