Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-08-28
LONDON PAPERS I.
DOLEFUL VIEWS.
Moral Suasion Fine Idea When
Backed by Physical Force.
COMMENT OF EDITORS
ON WILSON'S MESSAGE
Criticism of Policy Calling for Amer
leans to Leave Mexico and Aban.
don Their Property.

LONDON. August 2s-The tone OF
English press comment on the Wilson
message is not hopeful of a speedy
adjustment of the Mexican situation.
the Times. in an editorial contsnding
that the message. while admirable in
tone and worthy OF President wilson,
reputation as a peace advocate, has a
drawback in being irrelevant to the
main point. The Times proceeds IL
ask why the Washington government
fails to take the simple and effective
course. following the European exam
pie OF recognizing President Huerta.
and adds: 1T Is difficult to resist the
suspicion that in emphasizing the per
sonal objections to President Huerta
the American government is jeopar-
dizing it's best chance of assisting the
country of which he is the effective
ruler =
The Pail Mall Gazette says:
I'VE fully understand that President
Wilson's message is born of the travail
OF his soul. He is good and devout man.
earnestly DESTROYS of furthering the ideals
or peace and justice, but on him rests the {,
responsibility Of protecting not only this !
interests of the United States i'm Mexico.
out the lives OF some thousands OF !,
American citizens who have settled there. :
sists In urging all the citizens Of the
United States In Mexico TO abandon their
occupations and to clear out of the coun-
try, and in proposing measures which
must rest on physical force for prevent
Ing the entry of arms and munitions into
the country either for Provisional Presi-.,
dent Huerta or for the rebels. We shall
watch the result Of the steady pressure
OF moral force with much interest, but
without much belief in its success.
Moral Force Needs Backing. :
I'VE have preached many times dur
ing these past troubled months that
physical force not backed by moral
force is both brutal and futile, but We
are compelled also to accept the con-
verso idea that moral force not backed.
by physical force is no less futile and;
In consequence is apt to become even
more brutal.
The golden dreamers of The Hague.
and of the capitol shrink from recog- :,
MIXING q fact SO fatal to their theories.
We shall see what Mexico has to teach
them"
Amateur Diplomacy. !.
The Evening Standard says: The
United States. as we have all learned
lately, distrusts amateurishness in
sports. 1t knows that IL you want to
win in any contest you must rely ON
the expert and take care that this ex-
pert knows all the details of his bust.
ness
ut is. therefore. rather surprising
mat the United States does not apply
the same admirable principle to the
conduct Of its public affairs"
The Standard continues by a refer
ence to the singular inconclusive-
| ness of President Wilson's policy. and
says that Provisions. President Huerta
Is the only power capable of restoring
order.
President Wilson's only specific. the
newspaper continues, Is strange
enough. It urges all American citi-
zens in Mexico to leave their railways,
their mines, their factories and their
plantations to be confiscated or Occu-
pied by the Inhabitants.
Such is diplomacy when it falls
under the control of distinguished
States into an impasse from which
there is no escape except by those
forcible measures to which the pacifist
President and his eloquent Secretary
The Daily Mail declares that wha.
the Washington government most
needs Is a policy, and asks whether
President Wilson supposes that the
ing utilities representing $50.O00.000
capital can put the railways and
tramways in their pockets when they
leave or whether they are to leave
them behind. 1t says that the mes
sage should be quite popular In
Mexico.
The Morning Post says: president
Wilson will have his hands full II he
sets himself up as the censor of morals
for the presidents of Latin America"
The Express says: Great Britain
has large interests and much to lose
nv war. but 1t is difficult to under
stand how British sympathy could be
otherwise bestowed than on the United
States"