The Washington herald., 1914-06-04
Treaty Is Guadalupe H;daIge.

Treaty Of Guadalupe Hidalso. 4
| The war between the United States and Mexico
was closed in 1873 by the famous Treaty Of cuadaiups
Hidalgo. Article XXI of which contains the follow.
ing remarkable provisions:
If unhappiiy any disagreement should hereafter
arise between the governments of the two republics
whether with respect to the Interpretation of any
stipulation in this treaty. with respect to any par
,ticuar concerning the political commercial rela-
tons of the two nations the said governments in the
name of those nations, do promise to each other
that they will endeavor, in the most sincere and
Earnest manner, to settle the differences arising
and to preserve the state of peace and friendship IN
which the two countries now placing themselves
using for this end mutual representations and PACING
negotiations. And if by these means they should
not be enabled to come to an agreement, resort
shall not this account be had to reprisals aggres-
sion or hostility of any kind, by the one republic
against the other until the government OF that winch
deems itself aggreved shall have maturey considered
in the spirit of peace and good neghborship whether
it would not be better that such difference should be
settled by the arbitration of commissioners appointed
on each side or by that of friendly nation. And
should such course be proposed by either party, It
shall be acceeded to by the other, unless deemed by
altogether incompatible with the nature of the df-
ference, the circumstances of the case.
Although rent with factional strife, Mexico is
none the less member of the family of nations, and
all who claim to represent her are bound to carry
covenants which she made at the close of her war
with the United States. more than sixty-fve
years ago. and which she renewed in spirit with our
government at the first Hague Conference half a
century later.
If Carranza is the unsel6sh patriot which his
friends and admirers believe him to be, he will pro-
claim truce and give an opportunity for the for
nation of a temporary government pending gen.
md fhus TO world
not self-seeking adventurer, but unsehsh lover
of his country, who can, if necessary, sacrifice him
self for her welfare.
1t is in the spirit of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidal-
90 and the provision of The Hague Conference for
the preservation of peace by mediation that the United
States and the mediating powers are acting. The
United States and Mexico parties to both these
and the two nations together with all
parties and individuals who claim to represent them
are bound to do everything in their power to make
those bene6cient provisions good.
Article XXI of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
provides for the humane conduct of war, if unhappy
should break out between the nations and for
the protection of noncombatants and "in general
all persons whose occupations are for the common
subsistence and benefit of mankind" Nor shall their
homes goods be burnt otherwise destroyed, nor
their cattle taken, nor their fields wasted by the
armed force into whose power by the events of war
they may happen to fall but if the necessity arise
to take anything from them for the use of such
armed force, the shall be paid for at equt-
able price" Article XXI also provides for the
humane treatment of prisoners. "Al such practices
as those of sending them into distant, nclement
unwholesome districts crowdine them into close
and noxious places shall be studiously avoided. They
shall not be confined in dungeons, prison-ships, or
prisons; be put in irons, or bound, otherwise
in the of their limbs" They to be
lodged and fed the soldiers of the forces into
whose power they may fan by the fortunes of war.
If Mexico covenanted to treat American prisoners
20, why should Mexican prisoners be butchered by
Mexicans, and the return of lasting peace be made
30 much more difficult? These remarkable provisions,
10 worthy of the highest ideals of modern civliza-
ion, and for which Mexico, as we'll as the United
States, deserves credit and stands responsible are
guarded by the declaration that neither the pretense
hat war dissolves all treaties nor any other what
.ver, shall be considered annulling or suspending
he solemn covenant contained in this article
If Carranza and his coadjutors will give effect to
Mexicos engagements in the Treaty of Guadalupe
iidalgo and The Hague Convention by joining in the
ruce now in force between the United States and
duerta's government the pacihcation of Mexico and
Ill it implies, will follow, while inconceivabe evil
o both countries will be averted. Never again will
uch opportunity knock at Carranza's door.