Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1914-04-24

r)l II armed conflict should uuhap-
.Ilr come as a result Of his attitude
of personal resentment towards this
government we should be lighting
only Gen. Huerta and those who ad-
here to him and give him their sup.
port, and our object would be only
10 restore to the people of the dis
tracted republic the opportunity to
set up again their own laws and their
own government.
But | earnestly hope that war is
rot now the 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
doing has proceeded from our desire
to help them, not to hinder or en-
barrass them.
I'VE would not wish to exercise the
good offices of friendship without
their welcome and consent. The peo-
pie 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
complications of interference if we
deal with it promptly, firmly and
wisely.
Wants Cooperation of Congress.
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 of SO grave consequence
except in close conference and CO.
operation with both the senate and
house.
II, therefore. come to ask your ap-
prevail that 4 should use the armed
forces of the United States in such
ways and to such an extent as may be
necessary to obtain from Gen. Huerta
and his adherents the fullest recog-
milton 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
ACKNOWLEDGMENT. We seek to main
tain the dignity and authority of the
United States only because we wish
always to keep our great influence un-
impaired for the uses of liberty. both
in the United States and wherever 1t
may be employed, for the benefit of
mankind"
Talks to Newspaper Men.
President Wilson explained his po-
sition quite carefully to the news
paper men at the national capital the
fore part of the week. He did not be-
lieve the mass of the Mexicans would
support Huerta. he said, but he made
it plain he intended to compel the
dictator to respect American honor
and dignity. He continued:
II want to say to you, gentlemen.
do not get the impression that there
is about to be war between the Unit
ed States and Mexico. That is not
the outlook at present. at all. In the
first place, in no conceivable circum-
stances will we fight the people of
Mexico. We are their friends and we
want to help in every way that we
can to recover their rights and their
government and their laws. and for
the present I am going to congress to
present q special situation and seek
its approval to meat that special sit
uAtion.
1T 10 only An issue between this
government and . person calling him.
self the provisional president Of Mexi-
co. whose right to call himself such
we have never recognised In any way.
:, !, Not tEnthusiastic Fog NAY.
80 that l haa feeling Of uneasi-
ness q read the papers this morn
ing. - IL the country were getting on
Are with war enthusiasm. I have
no enthusiasm for YER: I have an en-
thusiasm for justice and for the dig
nifty Of the United States. but not for
war. And this need not eventuate
into war IL We handle it with firmness
and promptness."
One thing he especially urged the
correspondents to remember-that
the administration has not lost pa
thence and that to lose patience would
be . weakness.
Az hessees the Mexican situation,
the president said. ii incidents like
the one at Tampico are disregarded