The Commonwealth. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1911-1914, 1914-01-01
THE MEXICAN PUZZLE.

Boiled down to a few words, the
whole trouble with Mexico, so far as
the United States is concerned, is that
dividends from Mexican investments
to American capitalists have practic-
ally ceased, and the real question is
how to get them started again at the
earliest possible moment and the least
possible expense.
There are several alternative modes
of procedure, but as all are more or
less uncertain, it is not surprising
that poor President Wilson is sweat
ing over the puzzle of just how to
proceed.
To invade the country and restore
tranquility by force of arms is one
method. But that would most certain
ly be long and costly process that
would take many years Of undisturbed
exploitation to defray its cost. In the
meantime, as it would undoubtedly
unite all Mexican factions, there
would be no dividends while the pro-
cess of suppression went on.
There is another alternative of CIV
ing the Carranza patriots" arms and
letting them do the dirty work of over
throwing Huerta But then, again,
there is no certainty they would sue
coed, no knowledge of how long it
would take, and no certainty that the
new regime even when established
would be any better for American
capitalist interests than Huerta's.
And in the meantime the dividends
would remain at a standstill.
Then there is third alternative of
letting the Mexican factionalists ex-
haust each other to the point where
all were so weakened that interven-
ton would be easier and less costly.
But this in turn seems a long drawn
out process, as the Mexicans seem to
be able to scrap indefinitely, and
while they scrap, the dividends are
still not Forthcoming.
A fourth alternative is to fix up an
agreement with the capitalists of Eu-
ropean countries, especially England
and Germany, so that all may combine
to "pacify" the Mexicans, and all
stand pro rata share of the expenses.
But that would be abandoning the
Monroe Doctrine and giving rival COM
petitors a dangerous foothold in the
country, and diverting future divid-
ends to Europe instead of to our ex-
ploiters.
In the meantime, Huerta is handing
out concessions to foreign capitalists
whose governments naturally support
his regime in return. OF course, such
concessions cannot be worked while
the rumpus is on, but then they COM
plicate matters for the future, endan-
ger American interests and SOW seeds
Of still greater trouble in time to come.
American capitalists don't believe in
dividing up" Mexico with their Eu-
ropean brethren in that way.
That is the situation President Will
son is up against, and it isn't an easy
one to solve, no matter what way he
sets about it. Just at present the
chances seem to favor intervention
finally.
One solution yet remains to be men
toned, but as it isn't within the
range of practical politics" it is per-
haps hardly worth taking into account.
It lies with the workingmen of this
country. If they refused to fight, the
Mexican question, so far as the Unit
ed States is concerned, would fizsae
out in talk. As it is, however they
can be depended upon. While they
tolerate their own exploitation by
capitalists. they will always be found
ready to assist the exploiters in fore
ing their yoke upon others.-The New
Wrrtr 1an