Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1913-09-05
NEUTRAL STAND IN
MEXICAN AFFAIRS
PRESIDENT WILSON ADVOCATES
POLICY OF HANDS OFF AND
NEUTRALITY IN MEXICO.
Outlines His Peaceful Proposals to
Mexico and Their Rejection and
Voices an Urgent Appeal for All
Americans to Leave That Country.

Washington.-Pre Woodrow
Wilson appeared before congress on
Wednesday, August 81, and revealed
how the Huerta provisional govern
ment in Mexico had rejected the
friendship of the United States and
its efforts to aid in the establishment
of peace and a government which
could be recognized by this nation and
which would be obeyed and respected
ny Mexicos own people.
In statement which breathed re-
Rret and sympathy in every phrase
the president chung tenaciously To op-
timism as to the ultimate result, not
.withstanding the pessimistic facts
confronting the two nations. Alter
picturing the hopelessness for Mexico
II she maintained her present posi-
ton, isolated and without friends
who can effectually aid her. the pres
ident announced the necessity of a
firm neutral stand by this govern
ment, a policy Of hands off" to await
the time of Mexico's awakening He
also voiced an urgent appeal for all
Americans to leave Mexico and for
the United States to aid them in every
possible way, but In emphatic Ian
guage served notice upon those who
assume to exercise authority in the
revolution-torn country that they
would be held to a definite reckoning
for losses and suffering of American
citizens
The message of the president was
received with enthusiastic applause
by members of the house and senate,
gathered in joint session in the house
chamber, and the machinery of the
government is in motion for making
effective the policy OF neutrality and
hands off" while the warning fac.
tions continue their struggle.
Foreign powers have not been ask
ed to place an embargo on the ship
ment of munitions OF war or arms to
Mexico, but the president in his mes
sage asserted that this government
had been given the general moral sup
port of foreign nations in the propos-
ais to the Huerta government which
have been rejected
In his message, which was In the
nature OF an appeal to the moral forces
OF this and foreign nations, the Presi
dent made 1t clear that he based high
hopes upon the effect the announce
mont OF this governments policy would
have, not only on the people OF this
country and the governments of other
nations, but upon the people of Mex
leo themselves. Now that the United
States has exhausted the effort to
bring about peace and a stable govern
ment In Mexico the president believes
that this go comments example to the
world will avail great good in the
end.
The steady pressure of moral force"
he said, will before many days break
the barries Of pride and prejudice
Aown and we shall triumph as Mexico's
friend sooner than we could triumph
IS her enemy-and how much more
handsomely, with how much higher
and finer satisfaction of conscience
and of honor
The president told congress that
everything this nation did in the stu
alton confronting 1t must be rooted In
patience and done with calm, distin-
terescad elaboration
He had no word of rebuke for Mex
leo and reached the determination to
maintain strict neutrality after having
presented the whole situation to the
members of the foreign relations com
matters in congress. Not an essential
detail did the president withhold. In
his presentation of the case for the
public, publishing also to the world
the reply of the Mexican government
TO Mr.. Lind in which Senior Gamboa
refers to the American proposals as
"humiliating, denies the representa-.
ton by President Wilson that Mexico
had not made progress toward peace
and though expressing appreciation of
the avowed friendly intent of the
United States declares that IF such
good offices are to be of the char
acter now rendered us, we
should have to decline them in the
most categorical and definite manner
Everything that Mexico had said to
this government In response to the
proposals was made public, including
the Huerta alternative that nothing
could be welcomed except unrestricted
recognition of his government.