The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1914-04-19
HUERTA'S MOVE NOW.

be made up. The incident of the
marines at Tampico is, Of course,
rather an occasion than a cause. 1t
is the climax of long series of af-
I fronts, and worse, which could not
possibly have gone on indefinitely,
however long-suffering ard patient
this country might have been.
Huerta has quibbled over the de-
mand for salute to our flag, in a
fashion which can mean only that he
| is willing to have trouble. 1t is a
difficult position for this Govern
ment. Not to insist on the salute
would be pusillanimous. To permit
Huerta to dictate the terms on which
the salute would be given, would be
worse; it would make him the real
determining figure. All this is an
inevitable incident to the necessity
of maintaining relations with a gov
eminent headed by a man who, if not
mad, is at least utterly reckless of
consequences.
The impression gains ground that
Huerta himself wants trouble with
the United States. That view is to-
, day widely taken in this country and
in Europe as well. Huerta might get
away with whole skin if Uncle Sam
undertook the job of putting him out
of Mexico; he could hardly hope to
do that If left to the delicate mercies
Of Villa.
If the salute be not assured by to-
night, our Government will prepare
for cventualities. The President will
address Congress on the subject to-
morrow, and there Is no doubt of
the event: he will be sustained with
at least substance of unanimity, in
the use Of force. How far 1t may
be necessary to 80 Is mere matter Of
conjecture. A blockade of all the
ports Of Mexico by our navy could
be established in a very short time.
That blockade would be q far harder
blow to the de facto government
than any single military disaster in
the field. 1t would, moreover, cut
of the last avenue Of escape from
the country: the route from Mexico
City, by way Of Vera Cruz, to for
eign parts; the route which Diaz
travelled when his regime collapsed,
the route which 1t has generally
been expected Huerts would take
when his cause should be on its last
legs. Turned back at the port, he
would have to give himself up to
American naval officers, or be cap
tired by the constitutionalists. 1t
would not be an agreeable choice, but
he would unhesitatingly choose the
first alternative. At the least, he
would be an embarrassing problem
on the hands of this Government.
There may be no way out of this
scrape without war; but the situa-
ton is by no means hopeless as yet.
Huerta will fall very soon if block
ade is established; and if the consti-
tutionalists como into power without
making any bad breaks, they will
have their try at Strengthening out
matters. With Huerta gone, there
will be no force to interfere with
Carranza demonstrating his capacity
for the situation. Certainly his rath-
er shadowy government has thus far
shown itself skillful in handling its
diplomatic and quasi-diplomatic af,
fairs. 1t has fallen into no traps, it
has maintained its se!f-respect as a
de facto government in the territory
where it controlled, it has repeatedly
shown keen understanding of the OBJ
legations imposed on it by tho laws
of war and the proprieties Of diplo-
matte procedure. It might have ut
terly ruined its cause in the early
months, had it's diplomacy been less
ably managed. Time and again
clamor has been raised against it, in
this country and in Europe, but it
has kept an even keel and gained
strength despite some mistakes in
the field that necessitated care
full handling by the diplomats.
In this manifest capacity of the
leaders for hand
ling themselves sanely, lies The chief
hope that we will get OH. Of the
trouble without war. They will not