The Holly chieftain., 1914-04-24

| ing to go out of their way to show
disregard for the dignity and rights
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 a 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-
emptorily demanded by our charge
d'affaires in person.
80 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 OF
similar treatment. Subsequent ex-
plantations and formal apologies did
not and could not alter the popular
impression which it is possible it had
been the object of the Huerista 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 to
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 into-
cradle a sort as to lead directly and
inevitably to armed conflict. 1t was
necessary that the apologies of Gen
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
the flag of the United States should
be saluted in such a way as to indi-
cate new spirit and attitude on the
part of the Hueristas.
Such salute General Huerta has
refused, and l have come to ask your
approval and support in the course l
now propose to pursue.
This government can, | earnestly
hope, in no circumstances be 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. Cen
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 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
the opportunity to set up again their
own laws and their own government.
But ! earnestly hope that war is
not now in question. | believe that l
speak for the American people when
say that we do not desire to control
n ha nff ffotr ~
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 if we deal
with 1t promptly, firmly and wisely.
mo doubt I could do what is neces-
sary in the circumstances to enforce
respect for our government without re-
course to the Congress and yet not ex-
coed 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.
|, therefore. come to ask your ap-
proval that should use the armed