New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-04-15
Huerta Must Make Full Repara
ton to the United States.

The massing of the Atlantic feet at Tampico Is
he first definite break in President Wilson's
"watchful waiting" policy In Mexico. He has at
last locked horns with the Huerta government on
an issue on which Huertas "standpat' attitude
cannot lead merely to little more "watchful walt
ing" Happily for Mr.. Wilson, the focus Of con-
xoversy has shifted from the capital to the coast
He has all the necessary physical force in hand
to compel compliance with Admiral Mayo's de-
mand that reparaton for the arrest of American
marines at Tampico must include not only verbal
apology but salute of twenty-one guns to the
American flag.
He has also model case on which to make an
issue with Huera. The latter has already acknowl-
edged by offering apology that his subordinates
at Tampico were in the wrong. Moreover, what
ever the United States will do now will be done
not as a power intervening in the domestic affairs
Of Mexico, making demands as TO the manner In
which its government shall be administered, or even
assuming the peremptory duty of protecting the
lives and property Of Americans and other nation
ais threatened by relapse to anarchy, but solely
nation calling the attention of another nation
to an acknowledged violation Of international law
There the administration stands on the solidest
ground There can be no doubt that its demand
for salute to the flag reparation for the wanton
arrests at the wharf at Tampico of United States
marines is justified by precedent salute to the
flag Is an established form Of redress for sights to
ity is pl
international law writers nonpecuniary repara-
ton When the Spanish authorities In Cuba seized
the virgnius on a charge Of flibusterng the Grant
administration demanded salute Of the flag as
mart Of the redress due the United States and Spain
agreed to give salute in case it should tie found
that the virginus at the time of her seizure was
entitled to fly the American flag. The Attorney
General at Washington subsequently decided that
the captain of the virginius had obtained clearance
papers by making a false statement and the de-
mand for salute withdrawn. But earlier
than that the United States agreed to salute the
Brazilian flag after Selling the Confederate cruiser
Florida in Brazilian waters. Also in the case of the
attack on the Spanish Consulate at New Orleans
incident connected WIFI the Lopez hliouotoA'
ing expedition the United States engaged to salute
the Spanish flag when the new Spanish Consul
should arrive at his post.
The administrations requirement is therefore
reasonable, and Huerta will put himself In the
wrong from the point of view Of international obi
cation as we'll as from the point of view Of prac
;ca craftsmanship if he refuses to supplement his
expression of regret by more formal measure of
reparation. He will take upon himself entire re
Sponsibllty for disastrous breach with this coun
try if he remains suenly obdurate on a clear point
Of honor between nations.
The people Of the United States do not want 10
be drawn into war with Mexico in Mexico More
alert and experienced diplomacy would have found
way before this TO accomplish practically every
thing desirable which armed intervention is likely
to accomplish. The country still hopes that diplo-
macy, not force, will be the weapon with which
order will be restored within the territory of our
southern ueighbor But it will stand unitedly be-
hind President Wilson IL the foolish stubbornness
Of General Huerta In Withholding redress for the
Tampico incident results in plunging him into a
war with the United States