Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-08-05
The Effort at Mediation.

t;v degrees the administration policy
win regard To Mexico is developing ana
Is being disclosed 10 tho public. 1t Is
uotfcv - pacific mediation. and the coun-
TN viii hope for its complete success
however great may he the mpatience IN
SOME quarters for speedier results than
seem likely to flow from the measures
plnptei 4 special representative OF the
president has been named to proceed 10
Mexico city to tndeavor TO secure an
- rceuIont between the main contendfng
E..,.tiuflS 10 1laC. temporarily in control
,t.4u acceptable t. both and to suspend
up-tjlities pending = general election I'M
dor conditions insuring the widest posi-
bic participation by the people In Mr.
Lind the government has chosen for this
dffeult and delicate duty man of esti-
mabIe character and some experience In
administrative affairs. but without train
ing in diplomacy and without direct
knowledge Of .4atin-Ame rican conditions
AMI with no acquaintance with the
language of the Mexican people. In
other words. h goes 10 Mexico City with
out any special qualifications for under
standing conditions or gaining the con-
hdence of those with whom he is to treat.
In this respect the selection does not
commend itself as particularly fortunate,
although the results may justify il.
1t must be acknowledged that the effort
10 secure the basis for effective mediation
in Mexico does not at this time promise
success. All reports from Mexico and
from representa- tives here of the opposing
factions Indicate a positive unwillingness
10 yield the differences to arbitration or
TO submit the case to an election. The
constitutionalists aver that election
would he participated In by less than -
per cent of the people. Thus the pro-
posal for an election involves the difficult
task Of persuadng factors now loud in
their denunciation Of that method of de-
termining the will of the Mexican people.
Can Mr.. Lind or any other representa-
tive of the President in Mexico persuade
the leaders and the rank and file of those
in opposition 10 the Huerta government
that an election can be held through
which the desire of the country will be
correctly ascertained?
Meanwhile 1t is to be hoped that no
disaster will occur in Mexico imperiing
or destroying lives and the property Of
American citizens. 1t Is to be hoped as
web that the lives and property Of citi-
zens Of other countries will be spared
pending the negotiations for settlement
In the chaotic conditions that prevail
through large section OF Mexico an ex-
plosion may occur at any time. and so
much time has been lost since these con-
ditions began that ii may be difficult in
the event Of Il disaster to prevent the as
sumption by European powers of the task
II restoring order south of the interna-
tional boundary.
1t must be remembered that this case
is not satisfactory even SO long as there
Is no actual catastrophe to American in
terests or TO European interests. Every
day there are losses in Mexico due to the
prevalence OF a state of war and the lack
Of a strong federal administration recog-
nized throughout the republic. Estimates
OF these losses are given publicity from
time TO time. but there can be no trust
worthy reckoning save that the aggre-
gate is immense
Thus this is not a matter that can be
disposed of at leisure. Mr. Lind goes to
Mexico City under a time pressure as
urgent as though impelled by the force of
impending disaster. This circumstance
suggests that II might have been wiser
at this juncture TO send as special repre-
sentative one who could step without de-
lay into the middle OF things, without
waiting to become acquainted. However,
all that can be done is to hope for the
best. and meanwhile TO refrain from any,
thing that will tend to embarrass this
government in its unquestionably sincere
Il belated, endeavor TO restore peace in