The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1914-04-23

their irritation and contempt.
w. S. Orderly Was Arrested.
"A few DAYS after the incident a,
Tampico an orderly from the United
States ship Minnesota, was arrested
at Vera Cruz while ashore in uniform
to obtain the ships mail and was
for time thrown into Jail.
AN official dispatch from this gov
eminent to its embassy at Mexico
City was withheld by the Geographic
service until peremptorily demanded
by our charge daffaires In person.
so far as / can learn, such wrongs
and annoyances have been suffered 10
occur only against representatives OF
the United States have heard OF
no complaints from other govern
ments of similar treatment
u. S. Singled Out for Insult.
Subsequent explanations and formal
apologies did not and could not alter
the popular impression, which, 1t is
possible it had been the object OF the
Huertista authorities to create, that
the government of the United states
was being singled out, and might be
singled out with impunity, for sights
and affronts in retaliation for its re-
fusal to recognize the pretensions OF
General Huerta to be regarded as the
constitutional provisional president OF
the republic Of Mexico.
THE manifest danger Of such a sit,
uation was that such offenses might
grow from bad to worse until some,
thing happened of so gross and intol.
cradle a sort as to lead directly and
inevitably to armed conflict. 1t was
necessary that the apologies of Gen
eral Huerta and the representatives
should go much further, that they
should be such as to attract the atten'
ton of the whole population to their
significance and such as to impress
upon General Huerta himself the ne,
cessity of seeing to it that no further
occasion for explanations and pro
fessed regrets should arise.
Il, therefore, felt il my duty to sus-
tain Admiral Mayo, and the whole OF
his demand and to insist that the flag
of the United States should be saluted
in such way as to indicate new
spirit and attitude on the part OF the
Huertistas.
such salute General Huerta has
refused, and have come to ask your
approval and support in the course
now propose to pursue.
This government can, ] earnestly
hope, in no circumstances be forced
into war with the people of Mexico,
Mexico Is torn by civil strife. II we
are to accept the tests of its own con
stitution 1t has no government. Gen
eral IIuerta has set his power up in
the City of Mexico, such as it is,
without right and by methods for
which there can be 10 justification.
Only part of the country ia under his
control. If armed conflict should un'
happily come as a result OF his attl-
tude OF personal resentment we should
be fighting only General Huerta and
IIbbt WIN w Num- "ii' o.
him their support, and our object
would be only to restore to the people
of the distracted republic the oppor
tunity to set up again their own laws
and their own government.
Hopes War Is Not In Question.
But | earnestly hope that war Is
not In question. ] believe that ] speak
for the American people when ] say
that we do not desire to control in any
degree the affairs Of our sister repub
lie. Our feeling for the people OF
Mexico Is one of deep and genuine
friendship, and everything that We
have so far done, or refrained from do
ing. has proceeded from our desire &c
help them. not to hinder or embarrass
them. We would not wish even to ex
ercise the good Offices of friendship
without their welcome and consent
The people of Mexico are entitled &c
settle their own domestic affairs in
their own way and we sincerely de
sire to respect their right. The present
situation need have none Of the grave
implications Of interference If we deal
with it promptly, firmly and wisely.
NO doubt | could do what is neces.
sary in the circumstances to enforce
respect for our government without
recourse to the congress and yet not
exceed my constitutional powers as
president; but ! do not wish to act in
matter possibly of so grave conse
quence except in close conference and
cooperation with the senate and
house
Use Arms as Necessary.
H. therefore. come to ask your APP
proyal that | should use the armed
forces of the United States in such
ways and to such an extent as may be
uecessar. to obtain from General
/ Iucrta and his adherents the fullest
| recognition of the dignity of the Uni
ted States even amdts the unhappy
| conditions now obtaining in Mexico.
/ There can In what we do be nc
| thought Of aggression or Of selfish ag
! grandizemcnt We seek to maintain
| the dignity and authority of the Uni
| ted States only because We wish al
| ways to keep our great influence unim
! paired for the uses of liberty, both in
! the United States aud wherever else
! 1t may be employed for the benefit oil
mankind, WOODROW WILSON"