The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-08-04
POLICY OF NoN1NTERFERENcE

1t is stated that President Wilson
has decided to keep on with the policy |
Of noninterferonce in Mexico; which |
means, we presume. the same waiting
policy of the past, allowing the Mexi |
cans to settle their own affairs for
themselves; al least, this is the idea
nominally to the fore in this admin
istration' policy and renewed declara-
ton, 1t is, in a way, the following Of
the Taft policy; but it is evident that
in any long continued series Of events,
there must necessarily come new view.
points and changed relations, which
make notifications in any policy de-
sirabe. We think that such modifca-
tion is desirable now,
1t is evident that the refusal to
recognize Huerta is not altogether a
policy of noninterference. At the first
it might fairly have been so consid-
cred, Just as when in Europe, King
Alexander was murdered in Servia, the
European powers for some time refused
to recognize King Peter as Alexander g
successor; so here, for a long time we
have refused to recognize Huerta on
account Of the assumption that he had
to do with the assassination of former
President Madero But, as in the case
Of the refusal for a time to recognize
the succeeding King of Servia, the Eu
ropean powers after a while did recog-
nize him. so it seems n clear case that
we should cease our policy of refusing
to recognize Huerta, The fact is that
only by recognizing him can we have
any official relation with Mexico, for
he as provisional President is the only
official with which we can establish
any diplomatic relations with Mexico,
All other claimants are absolutely i'm
possible. He is the de facto represeu
tative Of Mexico, and as such we should
recognize him. 1t is also a clear case
that our refusal to recognize him gives
aid and comfort to every insuTrection
ary leader in Mexico; for our refusal
goes to the point that in our opinion
Huerta is an international outlaw. But
if be is, then rebellion against him can
be no crime.
This is said In full accord with the
supposition that Hnerta s responsibility
was more or less direct as TO the mur.
der Of Madero; but in the analogous
case Of Yuan Shi Kai in China. whom
the President has recognized AS the head
Of the Great Republic of China, mur-
der is rampant there also, even more so
than in Mexico. Yuan Shi Kai has
slain people by the score while Huerta |
has slain by the unit, and if the blood |
upon Yuan Shi Kai hands has not |
caused us to refrain from recognizing |
him, then the blood on Huerta's IS hands,
should they be suhuscd with it, should
not forever keep us from recognizing
the Huerta government.
So far as slaughter is concerned, there
has been immensely more of it in |
China than in Mexico. In China we
did not stop to inquire about that
in Mexico we did inquire
But we had no more right to inquire
in Mexico than we had in China. In
fact, we have no right to inquire in
either case, for the manner in which
foreign peoples set up their govern
ments, the means they employ and the
slaughter involved, are no concern Of
ours, All that we have any business
to inquire into is whether there is in |
fact a government which we can deaf |
with. There is such a government In
Mexico, precisely as there is in China,
and as to the bloodshed in each case. |
hoe of in
than In China. Therefore, since we
did not refuse to recognize Yuan Shi
Kai on account Of the blood he had
shed, We should not refuse on the same
account to recognize Huerta.
On the general features involved in
our refusal to recognize the Huerta
government, we commend to public no.
tice the following sound view taken by
a correspondent of the New York Even.
ing Post:
The refusal Of the United States govern
ment TO recognize the Huerta government
in Mexico may be magnificent but it is
doubtful If IL is good diplomacy. Presum-
ably such action is based on the disap-
proval OF the murder OF Madero "a facO
by Huerta Daz and Mondragon Ca ques-
,onable supposition). Presumably the
purpose OF this refusal of recognition is TO
deter the Mexicans from the commission
of such crime again. We are the (self-
constituted) guardians OF Mexico and the
Latin-Americsn republics. and we take
this opportunity 10 let them know that we
don't like the way they manage their
politics We protect them from exterior
aggression without being asked). and we
frown when their private, domestic quar-
rels do not suit us
The practical effect Of such refusal on
the part OF the United States has been
to jeoIardize American lives. ruin Ameri-
can property. TO irritate the governing
powers In Mexico. and 10 furnish ground
for our critics in La tina america 10 call
US hypocrltcal when we are not puerile
The official disapproval at Washington
has about as much erect on crimes OF
violence In Mexico as Mrs. Partlngton's
mop had on the Atlantic.
Can IT possibly be that Mr.. Bryan does
not understand Mexican history and po-
hucal habits? Madero was overthrown
by Felix Diaz by force OF arms. Ma
dero seized the government from the
hands of Por!irio Daz when the latter
was too old and feeble TO fight. Don
Porllrio settled the succession between
himself and Lerdo on the ied OF battle.
Lerdo was the lfor q Whllel neaceful suc-