New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-04-26
South American Mediation
SUNDAY. ArRn "a, ,s,'.


The characterization proposed by the South Amer'-
can REPUBLICS and accepted by this country may '"e'
. wsv ont Of the Mexican difficulty. At any rate
,hs administration could not do anything but agree
70 Il. The public does not want war II II can Dc
honorahlv avoided The administration Is con'n''eu
to peace II peace is possible.
The offer Of god services comes from three ma
,,ons which can appropriately take hand in the
international controversies Of the American conu'
nents. The United States should do nothing to Tor
felt their good will in taking steps against MeN'"
II having FIST satisfied these three republics OF its
ressonsheness and Observation-Disclosures It is compelled
- use force against Mexico, its position Will be Inn
mensely strengthened SO far as South American
opinion is concerned
President Wilson'S letter accepting mediation
not particularly hopeful in its tone The President
dwes rpon the danger that acts Of hostility on the
mart Of Mexico will make II impossible for the United
states honorably 10 await the result Of the South
American tenders Moreover, he asserts that nothing
short Of a permanent solution Of the Mexican prob
lem will be acceptable to this country. thus casting
aside the fiction that mere reparaon for an insult
was all that the United States sought in resorng TO
acts Of war.
The understanding in Washington IS that the plan
Of the South American republics looks to the elimina
ton Of Huerts President Wilson's language in his
note is vague but nothing short of the elimination
will amount TO permanent solution of the Mexican
difficulty and nothing short Of il should be consented
10 BY this country 1t would be farce to arbitrate
the question whether or not Huerta should FIRE TWEEN
y-one guns in our honor without written contract
with us 10 return the salute. That is the nominal
issue. or was few days sgo But the real issue Is
the establishment Of government IN Mexico with
which we and the world In general can get on with
toerable assurance OF safety to life and property.
An adjustment that will bring less than this, diff
cult as It is to attain would leave just where we
have been for months waiting for something to tlrr
Nd which would save US from the appalling cost of
assuming the task Of setting MexicOs house in order
by force OF arms.
That Huerta WI consent 10 his own einina-
tlon by the South American republics seems at this
writing doubtful He has persistently declined TO
go" And to-day he has inhamed people behind
hiu-more nearly united people than ever before
since be took Office. II he wishes to limit medlauon
70 the question Of the salute, joint intervention by
the South American powers and the United States
NAV spring from the present movement This was
suggested bv The Tribune last summer, when it was
a more hopeful programme than it is today
Like every step in the Mexican affair the proposed
mediation was unforeseen and no one can tell what
will come Of II. With war on its hands that it did
not want. the administration has Numbered into
possibe avenue Of peace We hope that 1t will turn
out to be an avenue of peace and not one leading
merely to better preparation for the enemy
The situation is Characteristic The administra
ton refused TO recognize Huerta without full real
ization Of what its refusal involved. 1t demanded
salute to its flag when insulted at Tampico without
q definite idea as to what it would do If one were
refused. It sent threatening force TO Huerta s
coast without knowing what it would do II it were
nut in position Of having to use that force. And
so with a real duty TO humanity possible excuse
for action It allowed itself to drift into the position
Of committing acts Of for trivial excuse. And
having struck once II sat down to debate whether Il
should strike again and quickly or wait for some
thing to turn up which would save it from the ne
cessity Of striking again.
Something has turned up which saves it from The
necessity of striking again at We hope it will
from +ha neoassitv ofs trilr{n1 aoain
But bunglng has not usually so happy an ending as
that.