The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1914-03-03
W0E'T SEND FORCES
To WORN TORN NEXICO
President Wilson Makes it Plain That
He Does Not Intend to Provoke
War Trouble.

WdSA4ASlCu, Z Gu. ZO.-HI6SlOGul
Wilson today took the position that
for the United States to send marines
or armed forces OF any kind into Mex
leo without the consent Of the gov
erning authorities there would be an
act Of war. He declared emphatically
that permission never had been
sought either of Gen. Huerta or Gen.
Carran7a and indicated clearly no re-
quest OF that character would be made
IN the near future. The president an
aounces, too, that no change in the
policy Of the American government TO-
wards Mexico had been decided upon.
The president had been asked par
ticularly about reports that American
troops might be sent across the bor-
der to recover the body of William S.
Benton, and concerning published dis
patches that the United States con-
templa:ed sending marines to Mexico
City to guard the American embassy.
Never Requested 1t.
One press dispatch, saying Gen.
Huerta himself mad today stated that
he had refused permission to the
United States to send 1900 marines
10 Mexico City, was shown to Presi
dent Wilson, who said no such re-
quest ever had been made,
Administration officials expressed
the opinion that Gen. Huerta proba-
bly, inspired the statement merely for
effect on the Mexican people, whom
he hoped to impress with his antip-
athy to the American government
as it is we'll known that permission
to land marines for legation guards
has been freely accorded by Huerta to
other nations, including Great Britain
and Germany.
President Wilson explained that the
talk of sending marines to Mexico had
never passed the stage of mere dis
eussion among administration officials
He said that when Great Britain and
Germany sent men to Mexico City to
guard their legation there was nat
ural disposition here to determine if
the American government should take
similar action.
No Chord Noodnd
His information, ne added, was tt 9
Mexico City was quiet and that thee
was no danger to foreigners and while
charge O'shaughhessy and Rear Ad-
miral Fletcher were asked for opin-
ions about an embassy guard, both
advised that such step was not nee
essary. Admiral Fletcher took the
view that there was no occasion for
landing any armed forces.
It was realized by the administra-
ton here that to ask the Huerta gov,
ernment for permission to land ma
rines would involve recognition Of
that government.
Discussing the subject Of sending
armed forces into Mexico the presi-
dent showed familiarity with prece-
dent, pointing out that in the Boxer
rebellion the Chinese government vir-
tually had invited the allied powers to
protect their legations becaues Of its
own inability to do so. He preferred
to the fact that the landing Of Amer
ican marines in Nicaragua to protect
railroad was done with the permis-
sion of the Nicaraguan government.
The president saw no parallel in Mex
leo to the stitution at the time Of the
Boxer outbreak.
Did Not Go Through.
When it was suggested that Presi-
dent Buchanan in a message to con-
gress had advocated sending troops
into northern Mexico to restore peace,
MIR. Wilson spoke of recently having
read the message and called attention
to the failure of President Buchanan
to point out any rule of international
law under which armed forces would
be sent into another country without
the latter's permission unless it were
an act of war.
The president views the revolu-
tionary situation in Mexico as but
little changed. Huerta's resources, he
thinks, have been weakened, and he
has learned of an undertone of dis
satisfaction among Mexicians in terri
tory controlled by Huerta at the lat
ter's arbitrary exactions of funds. He
let it be konwn. that he had inquired
into various reports about American
financial aid to Carranza and was