New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-04-19
The IJltimatum to Huerta and What
Nav Follow 1t.

The administration has puiIeu huetNA w ~
short t1rp He is to have until O'Clock this al'er
noon TO decide whether he will comply WIN our
Governments demand for salute TO the nag as
reparation for the Tampico insult HuerVa naS
+iea6 With the administration because years ex-
perience with its long-sufering methods has MADE
him doubt whether or not It would ever stir itself
10 the point Of quick and resolute action his skep
+iclsm was justifable SO far as an assumption by
rbe Wilson administration Of responsibility for pro-
tecting the lives and property Of Americans and
other nationals in Mexico was concerned. But wheh
he trod on the navy's toes and raised question Of
respect for the flag he wandered foolishy into
field IN which no American administration could put
.watchful waiting" before prompt performance u
duty
II Huerts does not Yield to-day Congress will un
doubtedlv authorize tomorrow reprsas which will
amount to war; without being technically classified
"a such One Of the happiest inventions In interna
1ional law IS the pacific blockade'-a procedure
committing the country undertaking It to limited
belligerent operations The United States has NOT
shown much partlality for this diplomatic fiction
but NAV now find it highly useful. It would enable
us TO seize one or more Mexican custom houses and
declare other ports blockaded without engaging in
aggressive hostilities on land If Huerta chooses 10
resent that sort Of pacific pressure by declaring war
he will be put in the position Of having himself In
vited a general clash which will necessarily involve
the downfall of his government
It has been said that European powers would
protest vigorously against pacific blockade which
should suspend their commerce with Mexico But
there would be no solid basis for such protest.
European powers have themselves used the pacific
blockade" on American nations among the prece-
dents Of that sort being the blockade Of New era
NADIA by Great Britain in 1886, Of Mexico by France
in 1888 Of the la Plata River by France and Great
Britain at various dates from 1885 10 1S4S and of
Rio de Janero by Great Britain in 1862. But the
most complete example Of the of this device in
American waters was the pacific blockade" Of Ven
ezuela in December. 1902. by Great Britain Ger
many and Italy. Those powers seized the port Of
La Guayra and bombarded the fort at the entrance
10 Lake Maracabo They shut Venezuela in until
II yielded 10 their demands and agreed to n settle
by the Hague Tribunal of the pecuniary claims
OF British German and Italian subjects
No European power could logically protest against
our applying this sort Of pacific pressure to Mexico
We are not warning against the Mexican nation and
have designs its territory We simply want
70 bring TO his senses a stubborn dictator, whose
course in Mexico has invited both foreign compiled
lions and domestic insurrection There is no ground
Of quarrel such as existed in 1915, when the boun-
dairy between Texas and Mexico was in dispute
Our aims in Mexico peaceful and IN harmony
with the real welfare Of its people. 1t will be the
fault Of Hueras selhshness aud ambition if Mexico
is pushed into the unhappy attitude Of repulsng
American good will and seeking a unnecessary war
with the United States