The Washington herald., 1913-11-20
CARRANzAACTION
Is Regretted
Refusal to Treat with Hale
Makes Administrators
Task Harder.
DUE TO REBEL VICTORIES
Dispatches from Gen. Bliss Confirm
Report, of Brutalifes on Part of
Victorious Constitutionalists.
BIZ JosEPH p. ANNIN.

The announcement by Gen. Carranza
William Bayard Hale in the latter's
capacity as unofficial envoy from Presi-
dent Wilson, threatens TO make harder
the accomplishment of the administra-
tion's ultimate object with regard to
Mexico. Carranza's refusal is tanta-
mount to a demand for formal recogni-
ton by this government. 1t indicates
that the leader of the so-called Consti-
tutionalists now feels competent to pad
die his own csnoe;'' to win his fight for
control of Mexico without pledging him
self to reforms which the President be-
lieves to be essential to the salvation Of
a representative form of government in
Mexico. 1t indicates, further, a decided
change of attitude unquestionably the
result OF recent rebel successes against
Federal arms
II Carranza's defiant position is not
two-thirds bluff" the President seems
in a fair way to lose the only Mexican
instrument now apparent through which
to work out far-reaching reforms for
Mexico. European powers, as a result of
President Wilson's course, have re-
nounced hope for vast concessions they
had expected from the Huerta regime.
parently cannot be far of, the President
had hoped to lend his aid in the freeing
OF Mexico from the small oligarchy OF
great wealth which now controls it and
barters ii away at will. For this he
hoped to substitute, through an admins
tration led by men of honest strength
and intelligent patriotism, new free
DOM ultimately replacing the present
self-like, poverty-stricken, and illiterate
mid Ia ola
Conferences with carrnnza.
To such a program he had hoped the
ConstitutionaIist cause would consecrate
itself Its leaders he hoped. would be
found antagonistio to the spirit embodied
in the Huerta regime, as well as to the
personalities which dominate mat regime.
He was not willing, however, to en-
brace the Constitutionalist cause merely
because it was at war against Huerta-
He sent Dr. Hale, in whose judgment he
has the greatest confidence, and who
compiled for him, FROM his speeches and
papers, the subject matter Of his work,
The New Freedom" Ninto Mexico 10
learn, at first hand. of present-day eco
nOmic conditions in Mexico. Then he dis
patched DR.. Hale to Nogales, Sonora. to
which point Gen. Carranza travelled from
his provisional capital Gen Carranza
and DR.. Hale conferred at once. They
conferred several times. To quote a
phrase used by President Wilson in con-
nection with instructions recently sent
another representative OF the administra-
tiOn. DR.. Hale was not instructed to go
hunting"
As a matter of fact, DR.. HaIes mission |
was to make an intimate study of Car |
rama, personally. of such of his in1u- |
ential followers and advisers as he came !
in contact with, and to sound out these |
leaders as to their plans for Mexico, |
should they come into power. He was |
instructed to ascertain to just what ex-
tent the movement headed by Carranza |
was based upon a patriotic desire to |
help Mexico as a nation, and whether |
they would pledge themselves to a gen.
eral program of reforms such as Presi-
dent Wilson hopes TO see enacted in Mex
leo. Just what support the President was
prepared to offer Carranza in return for |
such pledges, is not disclosed. The ad-
here is in a position, how
ever, to render very materIar aid to the
Carranza cause without lifting the EN-
barge on arms.
Doubt on Motives.
However, the question does not in
volve so much the attractiveness of
President Wilson's proposals as the
sincerity of Carranzas professions of
patriotism. And in rebufing President
Wilson's advances, Gen. CarranZa casts
grave doubt on the purity OF his mo-
tives in drenching his country in the
blood of its nationals.
But il Carranza had not himself
broken off the negotiations. President
Wilson might have felt called upon to
abandon them, in view of the murder
Gus tactics of CarranZa's victorious
generals. Dispatches from Gen. Bliss,