The Penn's Grove record., 1914-04-24

fOudTS6 III person. 30 lar
as l can learn, such wrongs and an
noyances have been suffered to occur
only against representatives of the
United States.
81 have heard of no complaints from
other Governments of similar treat
ment. Subsequent explanations and
formal apologies did not and could
not alter the popular impression which
it is possible it had been the subject
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 refusal to recognize the pre-
tentions of Gen. Huerta to be regard
ed as the Constitutional provisional
President of the Republic of Mexico.
Offences Might Become Worse.
"The manifest danger Of such a
situation was that such offences 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.
Huerta and his representatives should
go much further; that they should be
such as to attract the attention of
the whole population to their signif-
canoe and such as to impress upon
Gen. Huerta himself the necessity
Of seeing to it that no further occa-
sion for explanations and protested
regret should arise. I, therefore, felt
1t my duty to sustain Admiral Mayo
in the whole of his demand and to in
sist that the flag of the United States
should be saluted in such a way as to
indicate a new spirit and attitude on
the part of the Huertistas.
"Such a salute Gen. Huerta has re-
fused, and 1 have come to ask your
approval and support in the course 1
now purpose to pursue.
"This Government can, I earnestly
hope, in no circumstances be forced
into war with the people of Mexico.
Mexico is torn by civil strife. If we
are to accept the tests of its own con-
%stitution it has no government. Gen.
Huerta has set his power up in the
City Of Mexico, such as it is, without
right and by methods for which there
a be no justification.
"Only part of the country is under
his control. If armed conflict should
unhappily come as a result of his atti,
tude of personal resentment towards
this Government, we should be fight
ing only Gen. Huerta and those who
adhere to him and give him their sup
port, and our object would be only
to restore to the people of the dis
tracted republic the opportunity to set
up again their own laws and their
own government.
Hopes War Is Not the Question.
"But l earnestly hope that war is
not now in question. / believe that l
speak for the American people when
l say that we do lot desire to con-
troll in any degree the affairs of our
sister republic. 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 doing has proceeded from our
desire to help them, not to hinder or
embarrass them.
"We would not wish to exercise the
good Offices of friendship without their
welcome and consent. The people of
Mexico are entitled to settle their own
domestic affairs in their own way,
and we sincerely desire to respect
their right. The present situation
need have none of the grave implica-
tions of interference if we deal with it
promptly, firmly and wisely.
mo doubt l 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 l do not wish to act in
a matter possible OF so grave conse-
quence except in close conference and
cooperation with both the Senate and
House.
81, therefore, come to ask your ap-
prevail that l should use the armed
forces OF the united States IN Sucn
ways and to such an extent as may
be necessary to obtain from Gen.
Huerta and his adherents the fullest
recognition of the rights and dignity
of the United States, even amidst the
distressing conditions now unhappily
obtaining in Mexico.
There can in what we do be no
thought of aggression or of selfish ag-
grandizement. We seek to maintain
the dignity and authority of the Unit
ed States only because we wish al
ways to keep our great influence I'M
impaired for the uses Of liberty, both
in the United States and wherever
else it may be employed for the bene-
fit of mankind"