The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1913-10-17
AN INTERNATIONAL AFFAIR.

Is the Mexican cmbruslio to turn
nut all international affair, somewhat
lmilar to some Of the situations with
which the nations have had to deal
4, China: There are features about
t which make this appear not lm-
srobable.
The United States is Mexico's near
lst neighbour. and there have been
,onest efforts made by u various
administrations to act the part OF
Mexico's best friend. Whatever may
AVE been the desire Of European ma
ions anxious to increase their terri
.orial holdings, this country has made
i known clearly that any attempt to
ancroach on the territory Of Mexico
would be opposed by the United States.
We have not meddled in the domestic
affairs of Mexico, and have maintained
friendly relations with her. so long
Us there was a responsible government
VI the head Of affairs.
Because of our peculiar position
with reference to our neighbor other
QAIlOAfS Idto SAbSANSu 0S W. NoNS SAkS
lead in determining the relations in
which Mexican affairs should stand N
their relation to the world at large.
That deposition has been manifest all
through the present troubles.
1t may be. however, that u proN-
unity to Mexico. coupled with the ILL
advised u%tterances of some Of our
people, may stand in the way of the
United States acting as p~eacemaker
and aiding the troubled country in
getting her affairs OIL a peaceful and
orderly basis. Many of the Mexicans
are jealous and suspicious of the Uni
ted states. There is a feeling there
that the United states looks with Gov
etous eyes on Mexican territory, and
it is impossible for the United States
to take a step in relation to Mexican
affairs without arousing the feeling in
some Mexican minds that we are pre-
pairing 70 step in and seize what we
want. 1t is not unlikely, too that this
suspicion is shared by many people
across the water. In countries where
preparation for war is one OF the chief
thoughts. and where the desire for
territorial aggression is ever present,
it is difficult to understand the policy
which seeks nothing that belongs to
our n%eighbors.
Affairs in Mexico appear to be about
as badly unsettled as they can be. 1t
may be necessary for outsiders to take
charge of the situation in the interest
of the maintenance of orderly gov
ernment. But were the United States
to take this step, and to prepare to
send an armed force into Mexico even
though the purpose were simply t O re-
store order and establish r constitu-
tional government, the Interpretation
placed on that act by a very large
share Of h Mexican people would be
that we were about to annex the coun-
try and destroy its independence for
Bver. That belief would also be sllar-
ed by many people in other lands. We
would find ourselves engaged in a war
with a people. lighting for their ma
tional existence, and we would be re-
Earded with coldness and suspicion by
other nations with which We desire to
remain on terms of cordial friendship.
Should outside interference he nee
essary. a demonstration in force by
the combined nations of the world
would present an entirely different ap-
pearance. 1t would be apparent to all
that the purpose was not a aggres-
sion. but peace and orter And any
Mexican administration, di%ctatorial or
otherwise, which might resist with al,
its strength intervention by the United
States alone. in the hope of making a
war SO costly that it would be aban-
doned, n in the further hope that
aid might onlc from some other ma
ton. so that a measure of success
might be gained, would hesitate be-
fore opposing the reasonable and con.
servative demands of the civilized
world. backed by the combined force
of all the powers.