Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-07-16
The Mexican Hypothesis.

Iutimation is given that the United
States will not change its policy with rel
erence 10 the recognition Of the present
Mexican government loo-.ing To the I'M
mediate amelicration o. affairs IL the
southern republic Yet there is no longer
doubt of the disposition Of the European
powers 70 put the case strongly before
this administration and demand the as
sumption Of responsibility by the United
States vt least one power II Is stated
has already made such representations
az the State Department and others are
expected u follow suit.
The position % the United States was
stated By President Wilson in j public
announcement soon after NJ took office.
10 the effect in brief that the country
would seek 10 make i basis for inter
course with Latin American countries the
principle of governments set up on or
derry processes and not upon arbitrary
and irregular force Adherence 10 this
doctrine mas caused thc refusal Of the
United States 10 recognize the Huerta
regime. although il is thu government
de facto. SO far as the greater part Of the
republic is concerned. and undeniably as
for all Mexico the government De jure.
killing of Madero r.ly have been. he
nevertheless had gone through the form
Of resignation and that resignation was
accepted by the congress and Huerta
was proclaimed provisional president in
accordance with such forms Of law a.
were observable in conditions then eX-
listing at the capital Thus if the case
is put up 10 the United States hy any
foreign power acting in behalf II the
present administration at Mexico city.
or acting in the name OF tranquility and
the restoration of order. il would be
extremely difficult for this administration
to maintain IT'S right to withhold recog-
milton pending an election. leaving a
gap of eight months in which anarchical
conditions have developed. due in large
measure ungusstionably to the withhold
ing of any degree OF recognition on the
part of the United States.
AS Mr. Cleveland once said. il Is a con-
dition and not theory that confronts
Us Theoretically the Presidents posi-
ton with reference TO Latin America, and
particularly Mexico, is admirable. Prac-
ticaIly 4 is fraught with the gravest
danger 10 American interests and
menaces American prestige in South and
Central America and throws the Monroe
doctrine into issue. Such a proclama-
tion of principle would be most praise
worthy provided il were accompanied by
practices squaring with actual conditions
Things i'm South and Central America.
and particularly in Mexico today. are not
as we as a peace-loving. ortier-obseTving.
law-respecting people would Ike 10 have
them. We have a high ideal of govern
ment for ourselves and wish for the same
ideal for our Latin Al -rican neighbors
Bat W. are not going to advance the
smaller rspuhics Of this hemisphere 20
u nearer approach To that ideal by icav-
ing them alone in their Turmoil! when. in
accordance with practices of long cs
Enlistment, they proceed TO make
changes of government by force rather
han by processes OF law
lad the interval between the estab
l5@hI:e-.t OF the Huerta administration
..1H he national elections been brief, Il
mater OF a few weeks. il would have
hecu perhaps justifiable To withheld
al. form of recognition pending the
pa. ely formal ratification at the polls.
.>-t III The face Of conditions of grave
1tS,ugtlon. with thousands of Ameri-
c,tas exposed to peril. with hundreds
81 millions of American dollars in
lieri lean investments ursafeg guarded,
10 .he Dn!tcu states deliberately 10
proclaim its ihsistence upon wait of
eight months before establishing re
lations with those in power was an
invitation 10 disaster Now comes the
day Of reckoning. The United States
must meet the European representa-
tioss. II must withdraw from its de-
ciSicn TO await a formal election, and,
recognizing the Huerta government ~
that OF fact. declare its positive in
ssistence upon the early restoration or
order under penalty, il needs be, OF in
rcrvent1on. Or il must persist i'll its
present policy and thereby grant. to
the powers of Europe the right them
selves 10 intervene in Mexico, with the
consequence of irreparablc injury TO
American prestige ia Latin America
and perhaps the permanent reputation
of the Monroe doctrine.