The Washington herald., 1914-07-11
President. Authority N Mexico.

There Is no pause In the couquerng progress o.
the Carranza-viila reyolutionsts toward Mexico City
The campaign for the overthrow Of Huerta has beef
long and hard fought; for months all the advantas
has been on the side of the rebels, who waged
bloody warfare while mediation was in progress a
Niagara Falls Huertas forces have resisted bravey
stubborniy, but gradually they have been cut tc
pieces or taken prisoners, until the final TRACED,
in Mexico City appears in sight The capture o.
Guadalajara leaves the way. to the capital open
When Carranza and Villa are installed there, tn,
utter uselessness of all peaceful negotiations with
the doomed Huerta viii probably become apparent
This government may reasonably expect then to be
called upon to Snswer an inquiry from Carranza a.
to what business its troops have in Vera Cruz.
Intimations come from usually reliable sources
that the administration is about to announce new
and definite Mexican policy; and surely it is high
time. On April ~, 1914 Congress adopted this joint
resolution ..s-..
In view Of the facts presented by the President oi
the United States in his address delivered TO the
Congress in joint session on the twentieth day OF
April, nineteen hundred and fourteen, with regard
to certain adronts and ndigntes committed against
the United States in Mexico Be it
Resolved BY the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress
assembled. That the President is justified in the en-
ployment of the armed forces of the United States
to enforce his demand for unequivocal amends for
certain arons and indgnities committed against the
United States.
Be it further resolved, That the United States dis
claims any hostility to the Mexican people or any
purpose TO make war upon Mexico.
There appears to be a definite limit to the au-
thory conferred the President by this resolution
adopted after his explicit representation that the
people OF Mexico are ENTITLED to settle their own
don aGai in md
desire to respect their right The present situation
need have of the grave implications of inter
ference if we deal with it promptly firmly, and
wisely"
Yet, without again consulting Congress the Presi-
dent has taken forcble possession of Vera Cruz and
collecting and retaining its duties and has
undertaken to dictate the selection of provisional
president of Mexico and to set up and maintain
provisional government This latter part of the pro-
gram will probably only succeed in the event that the
provisional government shall consist of Carranza
and Villa, whose campaign this government has so
persistently aided, or OF men designated by them.
So far as the people of this country are informed,
the government is only inviting dangers and COM
plcations by continuing to maintain its forces in Vera
Cruz If there is necessity for their continued pres
ence there it is only reasonable and right that Con-
gress should be informed of the policy creating such
necessity and additional authority requested. 1t
would certainly appear that the President has already
gone the extreme limit of the authority granted
him April p, even under the most liberal con-
struction The issues involved are too grave for one
man assume all the responsibility for the outcome
Unless Congress is given reason sufficient to
gain its approval for the continued occupation of
Vera Cruz, troops should be Withdrawn forth
with.