New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-09-20
Common Sense Triumphs.

spective governments the recognition IN
Mexico Of "any provisional government
with the material and moral capacity to
protect the lives and property of nation
ais and foreigners" the Pan-American
diplomats who met at the Hotel Biltmore
on Saturday have now reduced the MeXi-
can problem to terms of common sense
and practical craftsmanship. The Wilson
administration had been dealing with that
problem for more than two years in a
spirit Of aimless and futile transcenden-
talism which had no root in diplomatic
practice or in American tradition.
The President got nowhere because ne
started wrong and was never able to re-
cover his bearings. He mistook the char
acter of the problem before him and
failed entirely to grasp the point Of view
from which alone American intervention
in Mexico's affairs was automatically JUS
tifable.
The interest of the other American
powers-friends and neighbors OF the
Mexican Republic-permitted diplomatic
action which would tend to restore order
in Mexico and to protect the lives and
property OF alien residents. Under our
INTERPRETATION of the Monroe Doctrine
this government was especially bound to
look after the welfare Of subjects and
citizens of European nations endangered
bv Mexico's relapse into semi-anarchy. 1t
was proper for us to bring pressure to
hear on the controlling faction or factions
in Mexico in order to end reign Of ter
ror from which Americans and other for
ejgners were wholesale sufferers.
But Mr.. Wilson never looked at the prob
lem from the angle of practical states
manship. He began by boycotting Huerta
on moral grounds. Disciplining Huerta
was considered more important than pro-
tecting our own and foreign interests by
assisting with all our energy in restora-
ton. under any auspices, of order and
responsible government. 1t was the
Presidents constant contention that he
was engaged in Mexico not in pursuing
strictly American ends, but in serving
humanity" and in helping the Mexican
neon to reap the fruits of the revolution
by regaining control of the soil through
the dispossession Of the hacienda mag
mates.
Even up to the point at which his pol
icy finally broke down this hallucination
persisted. In the "ultimatum" Of June 2
last. in which he ordered the factional
chiefs to get together, he warned them
that this country would insist on "a set
Element which will embody the real object
of the evolution-constitution govern
ment and the rights Of the people" He
said further: 81 feel it to be my duty to
tell them (the faction leaders) that If
they cannot accommodate their differences
and unite for this great purpose, within
a very short time this government will be
constrained to decide what means should
be employed by the United States in order
10 help Mexico save herself and serve her
people"
The faction chiefs did not unite. But
rather than face the consequences of max
ing rood on his "ultimatum" Mr.. Wilson
turned the settlement of the Mexican
problem over to the diplomatic repre-
sentatives of the A. B. c. nations and Of
Uruguay, Bolivia and Guatemala, all of
which were known to be committed to deal
ing with Mexico along normal diplomatic
lines, pursuing their own interests as
American states and discarding all pre-
tence Of Serving humanity" or going into
90 ha Of n
luton" or 10 give larger economic free
dom to the submerged poems.
The objects which the Pan-American
diplomats have in view are sane and prac-
ticable. II is time TO put all the political
influence of the American states behind
whatever de tacto government in Mexico
can best restore order and give protection
to the lives and property of foreigners.
Between the provisional establishments in
sight there can be little difficulty in choos-
ing. General Carranza's government has
proved far superior to that of either of
his chief rivals in stability and vigor, and
Carranza should have a fair chance TO
show whether, with the countenance of
the United States and Of the chief Latin
American countries, he can stamp out
disorder and set up again a semblance of
really national authority, fully respon-
sible TO the outside world.
If at the next meeting Of the conference
il is decided TO recognize Carranza the
first real step will have been taken toward
pacifcation in Mexico and the re-estab-
lishment of the normal status there Of
American and other alien residents. II
may disturb the pride Of the people of this
country to know that they shall owe this
first break in the gloom of the Mexican
situation not 70 their own government
but to the good offices of Latin America.