The Washington herald., 1913-08-28

in the present crisis. stood sorely il
need of such a pTOnouncement.
President Wilson's proposals to Huerta
were frank to a degree and open to no
misunderstanding. They told Gen
Huerta to get out and let us have peace
in the southern republic.
Senior Gamboa's reply showed plainly
the deep resentment which his chief and
the administration felt at the frank rep
reservations OF this government. and
said in so many words that, except for
the representations o. other govern
ments in the premises, these proposals
would have been looked upon as an in
suit to the prestige and dignity Of the
Mexican government, and would have
been treated accordingly.
| GambOn's Note Masterpiece.
Senior Gamboa's note was looked upon
yesterday as a masterpiece of its kind,
and, although President Wilson, in his
address, announced that the way still
was OIen TO further negotiations from
either side, 1t is evident from the Mexi-
can note that the Huerta government did
not at the time II was written expect to
have any further dealings with the WI
son administration.
The feeling among members of Con-
gTess yesterday was that. beyond clear
ing the atmosphere and putting us in an
unassailable position in the eyes OF Eu-
ropean governments, the Mexican policy,
so far as it has progressed. has accom-
plished nothing toward restoring peace
in that troubled country.
1t is believed that unless other govern
ments adopt strong anti-Huerta policies
and minimize the shipment of munitions
Of war to the Huerta forces in the future,
the policy announced by President Will
son will certainly pave the way to
Huerta's supremacy and selection at So
called elections to the constitutional
Presidency Cso-called) of the Mexican re-
public. Granted this development, it is
asked: Where would we stand, diplo-
matically, toward Mexico during Huerta's
incumbenCy?
Embargo viii BE HurtfuI.
For 1t is commonly believed that the
strict embargo against the shipment of
arms into Mexico will injure the revolu-
tionists rather than the Huerta forces,
unless European governments do all in
their power to prevent shipments of
arms from their shores to Huerta. This
in view Of the strong support of the
Wilson proposals. they are expected TO
do. and the theory Of the policy is that.
without munitions OF war; DOtn ldCtlODS
will decide that peace is preferable to
the conditions which would result.
There was some doubt at the Capt.
tol yesterday as 20 just how far the
President is prepared to go in the
event of further atrocities against
American citizens in Mexico. His pol
icy recognizes one faction as widely or
as narrowly as another. and paves the
way to armed retaliation, not against
the country. but against one faction or
another. for outrages against American
citizens. On the other band, certain
passages in his address leave doubt as
to the steps which the President might
consider necessary in resenting out
RACES against American life and prop
erty.
When all = said and done, however.
American history teaches that the peO-
pie of the country. and not any one
branch of the government, declare or re-
fuse war, and II history repeats itself, /
President Wilson will not have to assume /!
responsibility for drastic action, which /!
may come, but which all proper infiu- |
enCes now are working to avoid.
The Presidents message and Senior |
Gamboa's note in reply TO the Lind mis- |
sion will be found in another column.