Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-05-02

were forcing the two peoples into an
unwilling war.
At the eleventh hour Argentina,
Brazil and Chile have shown a way
out With admirable promptness both
sides have agreed to avail themselves
of the offer. There will be no war if
both sides, in good faith and with a
sincere desire to compose their differ
ences, put themselves without reser-
walton or condition into the hands of
the mediating powers.
What Huerta may do it would be
dangerous to predict. He is a man of
blood and iron, despotic, ruthless, but
fearless withal. A brain dazed with
drink combined with an intrepid fight
ing spirit may Woduce almost any
course of action. But what the United
States should do is crystal clear. We
must seek peace sincerely, consistent
ly, ardently, firm in the realization
that in so seeking peace We cannot
fail to find honor as well.
We must make no hampering condi-
tons, insist upon no technical reserva-
lions. Above all we must remember
that there are two questions involved
in our relations with Mexico. They
must for the present be kept separate,
although we fear from the reply of
Secretary of State to the offer of med
iation that there is danger that they
will be confused
Tho one question is that of our rela-
lions with General Huerta President
Wilson has made it perfectly clear
that our action in sending armed
Cruz has to do solely with this ques-
ton. We have been upon the brink of
war because General Huerta has re-
fused to do what we demanded. In
his address to Congress the President
said, IF armed conflict should unhap-
PLY come as a result of his attitude
of personal resentment toward this
Government, we should be fighting
only General Huerta and those who
adhere to him and give him their sup
port" The President has done well to
insist from the beginning that it is
Huerta and Huerta alone with whom
our present quarrel is. 1t is this quar-
rel that must be adjusted before we
can attack the larger problem. To this
quarrel General Carranza, General
Villa and their supporters are not
parties. There is no need to bring
them in at the present stage of af
fairs Our immediate task is to re-
move the causes of conflict that have
threatened war between the United
Stetes and the supporters of General
Huerta. To insist upon any conditions
which would raise other questions or
involve other parties would be to jeop-
ardize the prospects of peace which
the action of the South American
powers has presented in so hopeful a
form.
When, thru their good offices. our
present quarrel with Huerta shall have
been ended, we may well go on with
their cooperation to seek a solution
Of the larger problem CT the future of
Mexico in its domestic relations and
in its relations to the rest of the world
and TO civilization. If the four great
powers of the Western Hemisphere
four powerful republics, devoted to
the preservation of popular liberty
and constitutional government-should
unite to extend their good Offices for
the solution of the next problems of
their sister republic they could hard
~ fail. A proposal from the United
-~N~NNSSf ~ SNAAtiAiett ain anu N~iiiiC ~
mediation between the warning fac
tions in Mexico would have tfemen-
dous moral force. The faction which
should refuse such an offer would for
felt all claim to the good opinion of
the world. The cooperation Of the
three Latin-American republics with
the United States would do much to
remove the prejudice and suspicion
with which our country is viewed
south of the Rio Grande
The splendid action of the A r c
powers gives bright promise of a So
luton Of the immediate problem of the
avoidance Of war with Mexico. 1t con-
tains the germ of a possible solution
OF all the greater problems that har-