Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1913-09-04

Wilson's message, read before a joint
session of congress, contained a COM
plete history of our negotiations with
Mexico, and included the following
advisory statements:
That all Americans be earnestly
urged to leave Mexico at once.
That Mexico be informed summary
punishment will be made if Ameri-
car lives are outraged.
That he deems it his duty to let the
various Mexican factions fight out
their troubles.
That he must prohibit shipment OF
arms to both federal and rebels to in
sure strict neutrality by the United
States.
Failure of the negotiations Of Spe-
cial Envoy John Lind was reported by
the president, but he said the door
was not closed to resumption of peace
overtures.
The president regards the situation
as critical. The spirit of his address
was friendship for the Mexican peo-
pie, but extreme pessimism as to the
outlook for immediate restoration of
peace, because of President Huerta's
rejection of the mediation plan.
The Message in Part.
In part, the president said:
1T is clearly my duty to lay be-
fore you fully, very fully, and without
reservation, the facts concerning our
present relations with the republic of
Mexico. The deplorable posture Of af-
fairs in Mexico | need not describe,
but deem 1t my duty to speak very
frankly what this government has
done and should seek to do in fulfill
ment Of it's obligations to Mexico her
self, as a friend and neighbor, and to
the American citizens whose lives and
vital interests are daily affected by
the distressing conditions which now
obtain beyond our southern border.
Meanwhile, what is it our duty to
do? Clearly, everything that we must
do must be rooted in patience and
done with calm and disinterested de-
liberation. I%mpatience on our part
would be childish and would be
fraught with every risk of wrong and
folly.
I'VE can afford to exercise the self
restraint of a really great nation
which realizes its own strength and
scorns to use it. 1t was or duty to
offer our active assistance.
ut is now our duty to show what
true neutrality will do to enable the
people of Mexico to set their affairs in
order again and wait for a further op-
portunity to offer our friendly coun-
sells. The door is not closed against
the resumption, either upon the init.
alive Of Mexico or upon our own, CT
the effort to bring order out o. the
confusion by friendly cooperative ac-
ton, should fortunate occasion offer.
Contest viii Be Shan3sr.
while we wait, the contest Of the
rival forces will undoubtedly Cor a lit
tie while be sharper than ever, just
because it will be plain that an end
must be made of the existing situa-
ton, and that very promptly; and at
the increased activity of the contend,
ing factions will come, it is to be
feared, increased danger to the non
combatants in Mexico as we'll as to
those actually in the field of battle.
The position of outsiders Is always
particularly trying and full Of hazard
where there is civil strife and a whole
country is upset.
I'VE should earnestly urge all Amer.
leans 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 safeguard their lives and
their interest, but because it is i'm
perative that they should take no un-
possible for them to leave the coun-
try.
"We should let everyone who as
sumes to exercise authority in any
part OF Mexico know In the most In
e~quivocal way that we shall vigilantly
watch the fortunes of those Ameri-
cans who cannot get away and shall
hold those responsible for their suffer
ings and losses to a definite reckon
ing. That a be and will be made
plain beyond a possibility Of a misun-
de~rstanding.
For the rest l deem 1t my duty to
exercise the authority conferred upon
me by the law Of March IA, 1912, to
see to it that neither side to the strug-
gle now going on in Mexico receive
any assistance from this side Of the
border. / shall follow the best prac-
tice Of nations in the matter Of neu-
trality by f%orbidding the expectation
of arms or munitions of war of any
Discipline.
The rigor Of discipline seems unde-
LL