The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1914-04-25


of this government, and felt perfectly
safe in doing what they pleased. max
ing free to show in many ways their
irritation and contempt.
"A few days after the incident at
Tampico an orderly from the United
States steamship Minnesota was ar
rested at Vera Cruz, while ashore in
uniform to obtain the ships mail, and
was for time thrown in jail
An official dispatch from this gov
ernment to its embassy at Mexico
City was withheld by the authorities
OF the telegraphic service until per
cmptorily demanded by our charge
d'affaires in person.
so far as | can learn, such wrongs
and annoyances have been suffered to
occur only against representatives OF
the United States. | have heard OF no
complaints from other governments or
similar treatment Subsequent e1-
plantations and formal apologies did
not and could not alter the popular
impression which IL is possible it had
been the object of the lIuerista au.
thorities TO create, that the govern
ment OF the United States was being
singled out, and might be singled out
with impunity. for sights and af-
fronts in retaliation for its refusal 10
recognize the pretensions OF General
Huerta to be regarded as the consu-
tutional provisional president of the
republic of Mexico.
THE manifest danger Of such sit
uation was that such offenses might
grow from bad TO worse until some
thing happened of SO gross and intol-
cradle sort as to lead directly ana
inevitably to armed conflict, II was
necessary that the apologies of Cen
eral Huerta and his representatives
should go much farther, that they
should be such as to attract the atten-
tion of the whole population to their
significance, and to impress upon Cen
eral Huerta himself the necessity OF
seeing to it that no further occasion
for explanations and professed regrets
should arise. |. therefore, felt it my
duty to sustain Admiral Mayo in the
whole of his demand and to insist that
be saluted in such a way as TO indi-
cate a new spirit and attitude on the
part OF the Hueristas.
Such a salute General Huerta has
refused and | have come to ask your
approval and support in the course |
now propose to pursue.
This government can, l earnestly
hope, in no circumstances hf 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
eral Huerta has set his power up in
the City Of Mexico. such as it is, with
out right, and by methods for which
there can be no justification Only
part of the country is under his con
troll. If armed conflict should unhap-
PLY come as a result of his attitude
Of personal resentment towards this
government. we should be fighting
General Huerta and those who adhere
to him and give their support. and
our object would be only to restore to
the people of the distracted republic
own laws and their own government
But | earnestly hope that war is
not now 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
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 do
ing has proceeded from our desire to
help them, not to hinder or embarrass
them. We would not wish even 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 rights The present sit
uation need have none of the grave
implications of interference il 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 re-
course to the Congress and yet not eN-
ceed my constitutional powers as
president but | do not wish to act in
matter OF so grave consequence ex-
cept in close conference and co-opera-
ion with both the Senate and House.
l, therefore, come to ask your ap-
proval that | should use the armed
forces of the United States in such
ways and to such an extent as may
he necessary to obtain from General
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. | seek to maintain the
dignity and authority Of the United
;,l