Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-02-28
DIPLOMATS SPECULATE
ON MEXICAN POLICY
Would United States Accept Huerta' 8
Invitation to Quell Anarchy,
Is Question.
Great Britain and Other Powers
Would Welcome End of Pres
ent Conditions.

Suppose President Huerta invited the
United States to invade northern Mex
ico under control of rebels against hi:
government. to put down state OF
anarchy existing. how would the
United States respond?
This Is speculation in that part OF
the diplomatic circle-a wide arc, al
though officially invisible-which has
criticism to make of the Mexican pol
icy Of the United States.
That President Huerta had extended
such an invitation was the construc-
ton put by Wall street upon his state
ment issued Thursday night in which
he rather admitted that anarchy pre-
walls where the rebels have control;
blaming the conditions that permit of
the execution without trial of a for
eigner upon the policy of the United
States, which puts arms into the hands
of irresponsible rebels; appealing tc
the United States to repeal the execu-
tive order which puts down the bar:
on shipment of arms to the insur-
rectory forces, and asking cooperation
in restoring conditions of humanity
and civilization to all Mexico.
Significant Feature.
Most significant is the fact that this in
depreciation of the Huerta statement
caused a rise in the general stock mar
ket Of several points, especially in Next
can securities. which is possible OF con-
struction as indicating that investors are
opposed at least to conditions of anarchy
in no. thern Mexico, and perhaps would
be glad of peace throughout the republic.
even if Intervention We're necessary to
bring it about.
To send an armed governmental force
into Mexico as punitory expedition, en-
powered to get the body Of dead Ameri-
can, or for any purpose, in the opinion
of the administration as set forth by
President Wilson. would be an act of war
Intervention in China and in Nicaragua
established facts in history, administra-
ton authorities declare. was justified by
the invitation Of the governments where
such Intervention occurred, and conse-
quently bears different aspect. Other
historians suggest that no invitation was
extended by China for the Peking relief
expedition, participated in by all the pow
ers, and. in the assertion that China ask
ed that 1t be done, some eminent his
torian blundered in statement of his
torical fact.
But with an invitation from the de
facto government of Mexico to intervene
in the interests Of humanity and civiiiza.
ton in a situation allegedly created or
partly created by the power asked to In.
tervene. eliminating construction of In.
PREVENTION as an act of war and satis-
flying all the expressed objections to such
a procedure on the part of the United
States. what course would the adminis
tration pursue? This seems tn no ~
interesting problem to diplomatists, who
solve 1t with many complex and ir-
reconcilable answers.
Might Consider Plan,
Sbou16 presideuf Ir,...
accept cooperation of the United States
in suppressing war conditions. on the
score that they are anarchical. there Is
possibility that the administration
would entertain the proposition. But
there would be an alternative. 1t is
known that the administration has been
considering the wisdom of aiding in re-
storing peace In Mexico by show of
force in cooperation with the de facto
government, with the proviso that Presi-
dent Huerta proceed again to hold cleo
has not announced any Views as to the
feasibility Of this course.
AS a government not officially recog-
nized, and with the rebellious elements
a most on a footing of belligerency. any
invitation for Intervention from Presi-
dent Huerta. 1t Is indicated by some
reasoners, would not be regarded as an
invitation with official status, il the ad-
ministration OF the United States pre-
ferred to take that view of it. So con-
strued. 1t would not be an invitation at
all; and going into Mexico would still
remain an act Of war-evenif the atti-
tude OF the de facto government Of Mex
leo refused to regard it as war.
Nothing to Bar U. S. Action.
international law and precedent carry
no obligation upon a strong nation that
1t is bound to respect, is the philosophy