The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1914-02-04

expoftation OF arms and ammunition
into' Mexico the government of the
United States puts itself. and intends
70. put itself. in the same position as
her nations whose subjects have all
tong been at liberty to deal as they
leased with Mexico. The government
~ the United States deems Il essen.
iial to the settlement OF her present
dimcuities that Mexico should be
treated as any other country would
De which was torn by civil war
Better OF N Left Alone.
The Circumstance that Mexico Is
Tor the time being unable 10 NEE, her
nnancial obligations creates no novel
or exceptional international rights
and she viii be the sooner able 10
meet her obligations and resume her
full international responsibilities II
sne Is left TO determine her own af-
fairs, first by domestic force, and
then by domestic counsel"
Shipment OF arms and ammunition
from the United States into Mexico
has been one or the principal levers
OF American influence in the Mexican
situation and has been the storm CEN
ter or agitation ever since armed rev.
olution began in Mexico in November.
1910. IL was charged by the Diaz gov
ernment then In power that the rebel
by arms purchased in the United
States. President Taft ordered troops
to Texas to enforce neutrality. but
Notwithstanding this the Madero rev.
olution was quickly successful The
border patrol OF several thousand
troops has since been maintained
chiefly TO prevent smuggling OF arms
The United States was confronted
in the spring OF 1912 with another rev.
nl eNfaNa l..
Orozco aginst the Madero govern.
ment, which had been formally rec.
ognized Again the United States took
the position of assisting the regularly
constituted government. but President
Taft asked for specific legislation EN-.
powering him to make the embargo
against arms more effective. Accord
ingly, n joint resolution was passed
on March IA. 1912. by congress pro-
viding:
The Farmer Embargo.
That whenever the president shall
find that i'm any American country con
ditions of domestic violence exist
which are promoted by the use OF
arms or munitions of war procured
from the United States and shall make
proclamation thereof. IL shall be un.
lawful TO export. except under such
legislations and exceptions as the
president shall prescribe. any arms
or munitions of war from any place
in the United States TO such country
until otherwise ordered by the prest
dent or by congress"
IL was under this resolution of "Tax.
ceptions" that the Washington gov.
ernment was permitting arms to 20 10
the Huerta government. hut keeping
them from the rebels when President
Wilson was inaugurated. From then
until last August the same policy was
pursued. The president in an address
10 congress then announced his deci.
sion TO deny arms to all factions.
This was regarded as tantamount 10
declaration that Constitutional gov.
eminent no longer existed in Mexico.
and that the assistance hitherto given
legally constituted regime SHOULD
cease. The actual operation OF this
embargo. however. instead OF effectinc
neutrality imposed a condition OF al.
fairs against which Constitutlonalists
protested vigorously They argued
mat the Huerta government could OBJ
tain supplies from Europe whereas
the Constitutionalists were cut off
from their only external base OF sup
plies-the American boundary. They
continued the fighting. in the opinion
OF government officials here. against
heavy odds. obtaining their ammuni.
Ilon by the slow process OF conquest
ANN-A VI lllF
10 occupy seaports so that they migi>
&c arms by sea from foreign countrifx
ended In failure. for the Huerta re.
gime had all the gunboats I'm the Mex.
ican navy and such places as Tampico.
and Tuxpam proved invulnerable 10
land attack
Unfairness Uraed.
Ihls argument has been urged upon
me Washington administration. how
ever. not only by the Constitution
aIst sympathizers who managed to
get their views before members OF
me nited States Senate and before
me American government I'm the par
leys with William Bayard Hale. but
had been laid before President VIII
son by leaders in congress.
expressions OF warm approva1
came from both end or tho capitol to-
uay when news spread Of the presi-
cents decision 10 lift the embargo
10 members Of the Senate foreign
relations committee II was no sur
Prise for they had an intimation OF IL
IN their recent conference with tho
such an announcement does not
SURPRISE me-" said Senator Lodge.
hepubican. u would rather not
comment on DO. but try N sustain the
president ln bis foreign policy"
senator Root. another Republican
leader. commended the move. az did
Dfinocrats generally Members Of an
poiitical PARTIES sad that regardless Of