El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1915-03-04
THE WILSON Policy Towards Mexico
L Has Caused the World To Critiicise Us
Representative onde Wyoming Thing
Done;
o Insulted World Rdicule

. Of the administration it was assumed,
if not determined, in the department
of state, that after a sufficient time
had elapsed to emphasize the abhor-
. hence and the disapproYal of our gov
eminent and people Of the assassiua-
tiOns which Immediately followed the
establishment OF the Huerta govern
ment our government would, accepting
the fact and the situation, recognize
the Huerta regime as the de tactO
authority in Mexico.
1t was realized and understood tnat
this recognition, If too long delayed.
those exercising authority in Mexico"
which would embarrass us in extending
that recognition.
Diplomatic Treatment Lacking.
The situation was one, therefore,
demanding close attention and careful
and diplomatic treatment. But the
crucial moment, so it is said, ap-
preached, arrived, and passed while the
secretary Of state filled lecture engage
ments.
Observations we're made, so it is said,
by the head Of the de facto govern
ment in Mexico and opinions were ex-
pressed by him relative to our acts and
policy toward that government which
executive, and then and there was
determined the purely personal pol
icy Of hostility against the head
Of the de facto government, Of inter-
of indirect Intervention in behalf OF
one Of the warning factions.
The Inevitable Happens,
What has happened Is the inevitable,
the logical result Of the attitude thus
assumed an attitude OF insult to the
sovereignty OF Mexico, an attitude dis
migrating and trouble breeding in its
effect Our refusal to deal directly
and officially with the de facto gov
eminent on the theory that Mexico
ion
cludes the possibility of our recog-
nizing, now or in the future, any de
factO government that does not sub
Ject itself to or meet the preposterOuS
condition that We, or, rather, our presi-
dent, shall judge the constitutional
character of the de facto government
This policy and attitude deprives any
government established in Mexico Of
that recognition by foreign powers
which is a helpful, If not an essential,
aid to the establishment of peace ana
order SO long as there are any aspiring
chieftains able to retain control of any
considerable territory or population in
Mexico.
Has Retarded Peace.
Not only has the policy thus pur-
peace, but it has rendered rs we'll
nigh helpless in the protection of the
persons and property of our citizens.
Our policy has likewise rendered US
impotent and Intellectual in fulfilling
our duties and responsibilities toward
other nations and their citizens, duties
devolTing upon US as Mexico's nearest
and most powerful neighbor and SOL
EMMY assumed by US under the Mon
roe doctrine.
Hundreds Of Americans have lost
their lives, thousands have been in
suited, despoued, and outraged, and the
property of Americans running into the
hundreds Of millions has been de-
stroyed or rendered valueless.
The nationals of other countries,
more particularly those Of Spain. who
have relied upon us because we as
sumed responsibility for them, have
suffered outrage, indignity, and death.
Foreign property, especially that Of
Spaniards has been confiscated, looted,
or destroyed.
Condemned by World.
We stand before the bar OF public
opinion OF the world condemned for our
failure to meet and live up to respon-
sibilities we have ourselves assumed.
The only answer or excuse made or
offered on this floor or elsewhere for
our failure and dereliction has been
IN the false claim that the president
has preserved peace with Mexico. The
president has not maintained peace be
tween the United States and Mexico.
He inaugurated and carried on a war
which but for the weakness Of the de
1acto government in Mexico would
nave peen long and bloody and which,
except for the splendid gallantry and
heroism Of our soldiers and sailors,
was as inglorioUs as it was brief
No Demand for War.
The oft-reiterated declaration on
this floor and elsewhere that the presi-
dent preserved peace with Mexico while
the Republicans were clamorinE for
war is as silly as it is untrue. No one
on this floor, no one in a position OF
responsibility anywhere, so far as I
know, has desired or demanded war
with Mexico. I certainly have not.
I did not approve the little war We
had. ! have never believed that in
tervention was necessary or desirable.
We might have avoided the loss Of
Sl5,OOO,000 and a score of gallant lives
at Veracruz or we might have made
that sacrifice Of some value by hold
ing OF extending our control
There was q. way to measurabIy pro-
tect our people and their property in
Mexico, and to have reasonably, prob
ably satisfactorily, fulfilled our oblf-
cations TO other countries and their
citizens without intervention and with
out further expense than that of hold
ing as we have done a considerable
body OF troops on the Mexican border.
If We Had Accepted Huerta.
Had we followed our time-honored
policy and in due ana proper course
recognized the Huerta government as