Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1913-08-29

MEXICAN POLICY IS
TOLD BY PRESIDENT
Wilson Urges Americans to Leave
Stands for Non-Interference
and Strict Neutrality.

Standing unequivocally for non-in
terVention, President Wilson personal
ly presented to Congress Wednesday
afternoon the details of the Mexican
negotiations and the policy of the ad
ministration, the first time a presi
dent of the United States had con
suited in such a manner with Con
gress on question of foreign relations
since George Washington's time. The
presidents message, which had beer
postponed from Tuesday to Wednes
day, pleased highly the congressional
leaders of all parties, according to AS
sociated Press reports, and is believed
to have had beneficial effect on the
general feeling throughout the United
States
During his message, the president
warned all Americans who can do so tc
leave Mexico at once, at the same time
declaring he would hold Mexican off
cials responsible for any harm to those
who are unable to leave. Announce.
ment is expected shortly of the mobil
ization of large number of American
troops along the southern frontier to
enforce the strict neutrality in the
traffic in arms and munitions of war
which is the keynote of the govern
ments policy.
The president presented to Congress
the details of the negotiations between
the two governments. the salient
points of his message being:
mo armed Intervention.
THE present circumstances of the
republic, l deeply regret to say, do not
seem to promise the foundation of
peace.
1T was our duty at least to volun.
teersour good offices-to offer to assist
ii we might, in effecting some ar.
rangement which would bring relief
and peace.
1T was our duty to offer our active
assistance. 1t is now our duty to show
what true neutrality will do to enable
the people of Mexico to set their af-
fairs in order again.
while we wait the contest of the
rival forces will undoubtedly for a
while be sharper than ever, just be-
cause it will be plain that an end must
be made of the existing situation.
1--WE should earnestly urge all Amer
leans to leave Mexico at once and
should assist them to get away in ev-
cry way possible-not because we
would mean to slacken in the least our
efforts to safeguard their lives and in
terests, but because it is physically
possible for them to leave the country.
I'VE should let every one who seems
to exercise authority in any part OF
Mexico know in the most unequivocal
way that we shall vigilantly watch the
fortunes Of those Americans who can
not get away, and shall hold those
responsible for their sufferings and
losses to a definite reckoning. That
can and will be made plain beyond the
possibility of a misunderstanding.
For the rest l deem it my duty to
exercise the authority conferred upon
me March 4, 1912, to see that neither
side to the struggle now going on in
Mexico receives any assistance from
this side of the border.
II am happy to say that several of
the great governments of the world
have given this government their gen.
erous moral support in urging on the
provisional authorities at the City OF
Mexico the acceptance of our proffered
good Offices in the spirit in which
they were made.
"If further motive were necessary
than our own good will toward sis
ter republic and our deep concern to
see peace and order prevail in Central
America, this consent of mankind to
wnat We are attempting, InlS attitude
of the great nations of the world to-
wards what we may attempt in deal
ing with this distracted people at our
doors, should make us feel the more
solemnly bound to go to the utmost
length of patience in this painful and
anxious business. The steady pres
sure of moral force will break the bar
riers of pride and prejudice down, and
we shall triumph as Mexico's friends
sooner than we could triumph as her
enemies-and how much more hand
somely, with how much higher and
finer satisfactions of conscience and
honor