New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-05-11
Time to Call a Halt on Taking
Chances in Mexico.

Tho administrations credit for alert and ener-
getic diplomacy will not be heightened even IL 'ne
cargo of arms for Huerta carried by the hron-
nrnzessin Ceciie was not landed at Puerto Mexico
Assuming that Mr. Bryan's roundabout intimauon
that II was not landed is well founded-anu he"i
Admiral Badger now reports that 1t is-the secre-
tary's explanations show that the refusal OF tne
German company to discharge cargo was only d
piece of good luck Mr.. Bryan says that ne ulu
not ask the German government to interfere Ill 'ne
matter and that he made no representations 10 Ine
MANAGEMENT of the Hamburg American Steamship
Line If a signal favor was done to the uhteu
States it was done gratis and without solicitation
on our part.
In fact. after the Administrations acceptance OF
an arnistice to which practically no conditions or
limitations were attached this government could
hardly have felt free to take direct or indirect
measures TO prevent the discharge Of foreign cargo
ar Puerto Mexico That port is not in our hands or
blockaded by us, and the vessels Of other nations
have perfect right to use it for the delivery OF
merchandise.
In failing to provide against the further importa
ton Of arms into Mexico while the socaled armls-
tice is pending Mr. Bryan and Mr.. Wilson left the
door omen TO a replenshment Of Huertas military
resources which may eventually cost our army nun
dreds of lives. They took a chance, as they nave
taken chances all along in handling the Mexican
situation They will probably go on TRANQUILITY
boping that every other cargo of arms destined FOR
the open ports Of Mexico will somehow fail of de-
livery but will take no steps to prevent delivery
Thev will sacrifice the claims of sound military
policy to the claims of inept and short-sighted
diplomatic policy.
The one promise Of a sharpening of the admin
istration's diplomatic perceptions lies in the selec-
tion of cx-SOlictOr General Lehman and Associate
Justice Lamar as delegates to the Niagara Fails
conference 1t is understood that these selections
were not agreeable TO Secretary Bryan. who would
doubtless have preferred TO see John Lind and an
other Of his close personal adherents chosen to rep
resent the United States. Mr.. Lind and Mr. Bryan
are partisans of the ConsiutlOnalist movement and
hope to avoid the necessity of Intervention in Mex
leo through the simple device of turning that coun-
FRY over 10 the tender merces Of PanchO Villa.
Mr. Wilson seems to have sided with them 50 far,
but in selecting delegates who apparently have
much soberer conception of American responsibility
in Mexico he has indicated at least some dissats-
faction with the Observation-Disclosures
selves-nomatter- what Happens point Of view. What
happens in Mexico has come to be of great con-
Germ TO us and it would be a melancholy avoid
ance of duty at this stage Of the trouble TO continue
TO think that all Mexico needs is the oustng or
Huerta and the installation of Villa. The sooner
the President drops that illusion the better it viii
be for us and for Mexico In the appointment OF
Messrs Lehman and Lamar he may be cropping
toward the light.