New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-04-22
Talk in Congress and Action a
Vera Cruz.

while the Senate talked yesterday about the lo'"
IN which the President should be authorized 10 use
toroo in Mexico force was used and blood was shed
,.,.hort rersrd 70 sticking over phrases IN WASH
,nrtop Action could not wait on the phrasemaAei'
since the arrival Of German steamer with large
CONSIGNMENT of arms and ammunition TOT 'ne
urorta government made 1t essential to seize the
Yarn cr,,z custom house and stop the delivery OF
those munitions Of war
Tho President undoubtedly acted within his con-
stitutional rights in ordering the landing oil
and sailors and the country was thus fully commit
tod even without Congressional sanction, to the at
temnt TO secure by pressure of arms the PREPARATION
which Mr.. Wilson had vanly demanded from
Huerta
Now that blood has been shed, the country VIII
nrobablv find itself committed to more than that
The Wilson administration, having drifted much
against its will into forcible Intervention In MeAi-
can affairs, may easily be compelled to make addl-
tional demands on Huerta, and, in fact, TO ann at
nothing short of his complete elimination from Mex
lean politics.
IL prudent ana redSOndDle, 81 lVhs as iAiOiN''
pacific pressure promised to produce results to Try
to conhne this countrys role TO activities snort OF
war" The events Of the next day or two may sno"
whether or not it will be possible to avoid open and
avowed hostilities The United States has no desire
10 make war on the Mexican Republic as such. us
present aim is to bring the Huerta government TO
terms. and how far that effort will carry us VIII
depend upon the extent of the support given Hueta
nv his follow citizens Pacific pressure directed at
the usurper in control of the governmental ma
chlnery at Mexico City the proper sort OF
pressure TO bring at the beginning. 1t now rests
with the Mexican people themselves to say how far
the attack on Huerta is to be converted into an at
tack upon Mexican administration and sovereignty
The bloodshed at Vera Cruz has made 1t of minor
Importance what form of words is used by Con
gress in approving the Presidents policy Of discipn
Ing the Huerta government. Facts are more potent
than words. The great fault of Mr.. Wilson's Mex
lean programme that its development was made
to depend on circumstances beyond his control He
chose to allow circumstances to control him, instead
of trying himself TO control circumstances. He is
still in that uncomfortable position, and it is not
what he wishes but what fate has in store for him,
that will shape his Mexican policy from now on.
he naturally tried to tighten his responsibilities
by limiting his quarrel TO Huerta and the City of
Mexico administration. From military as well as
q political point Of view it manfestly desirable
TO avoid identifying Mexico in general with the little
.l,o
capital 1t will be easier to deal with Huerta first
and let those Mexicans who wish to do So includ
ing the organized forces of the Consttutionalists
stand aoof.
The resolution reported to the Senate by its For
eign Relations Committee is therefore, preferable
TO the House resolution to such resolution as
would have resulted from the adoption Of Mr.
Lodges preamble amendment. The latter lays a
better basis for unconditional intervention
vention Of the sort which should have been under
taken long ago through diplomatic means
The duty of the United States to protect its cit-
and its international rights in Mexico and to
end an ntolerable situation there will soon be rec
ognized Not tomorrow, perhaps or the day after
since II has already taken Mr.. Wilson and Mr.
Bryan thirteen months TO realize that they had any
duty in Mexico beyond "watchful waiting" Mr.
Lodges plan can rest on It's merits secure Of the
future.
II VIII be better for the present, however to let
the President and Mr. Bryan work out their own
kind OF Intervention in their own way If they can
isolate Huerta and bring him into state Of sub
mission 1t will then be time to deal with the under.
lying problem Of renovation In broader way