New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-12-22
MIR. Wilson's Success in Mexico

MIR. Wilson's Success IN Mexico.
Administration partisans are inclined to
iubilate over General Villas departure
from the Mexican scene. The passing OF
all Northern Mexico under Carranza's
control presagcs the end Of armed faction
alism-at least for a time. Paclncation'
it is argued, will push the Mexican ques-
ton into the background and permit this
country to forget the failures and houn-
behring's of Mr.. Wilson's policy.
Both "The Times" and "The Evening
POST assume that the Mexican issue has
disappeared and are highly rejoiced at ITS
disappearance. "The Times" works hard
20 extract some credit for Mr.. Wilson out
of the impending unification OF Mexico
under Carranza's government. 1t tries 10
attribute this result to some extent to the
Presidents policy and says that through
ont this country there IS a feeling OF
thankfulness that war with Mexico has
been avoided
But if an avoidance of war was the
only object sought in our dealings
with Mexico. it could have been attained
with far less wear and tear-with far less
backing and filling through the simple
expedient Of letting Mexico go her own
way unhindered-by ignoring at every
stage the American interests injured in
the struggle of the factions and the Amer
lean lives sacrificed to brutality and law
lcssness. It would have been easier and
SIMMER 10 stick absolutely to the original
Wilson-Bryan programme of summonlng
all Americans out of Mexico and crying,
"the consequences be on your own heads
70 those who didn't escape in time or who
preferred to risk their lives by staying be-
hind TO fulfil business engagements or to
look after their property interests. There
could never have been the slightest danger
of war through Intervention if such
policy of national abasement had been
consistently adhered to.
Those who try to read success of any
sort into Mr.. Wilson's Mexican policy
overlook ono vital fact. That is, that the
Mexican question has at last settled itself
through the long, uphill struggle to vic
tory of the Carranza government. The ad-
ministration contributed nothing to that
achievement Il was continually at odds
with Carranza. 1t helped TO freeze him
out Of the Niagara Falls conference, at
which its differences with Huerta were
composed 1t tried TO shift grave interna-
tional responsibilities to his shoulders at
the time when his government was weak
est-when he had been compelled TO aban-
don the capital and TO establish himself
in Vera Cruz. 1t finally issued an ulti-
matum threatening intervention unless he
should join with other faction leaders in
q harmony conference, called for the pur-
pose Of naming a compromise Provisional
President.
Ills constancy foiled Mr.. Wilson's diplo-
macy. In order to cover its failure to dis
lodge him the administration invited in the
diplomatic, representatives Of Argentina,
Brazil, Chill, Bolivia. Guatemala and
Uruguay, and after one formal renewal OF
the plan for eliminating Carranza through
an all-faction conference that proposition
was withdrawn and Carranza was recog-
nizcd Internationally. His political tenac-
ity and his victories in the field over
Villas forces unified and pacifed Mexico.
70 them alone is due the happy outcome
which Mr. Wilson's partisans would now
gladly attribute 20 the administration
activities
The Presidents programme oscillated
between Intervention and pasSivity. In his
recent message to Congress he tried TO
create the impression that he had never
Quilted in" i'm Mexico. But his original
moral boycott of lIuerta was Quitting in"
SO was his occupation OF Vera Cruz, from
which port he withdrew eventually with
out securing the salute to the flag which
hc had demanded. His repeated declara-
tious that he had gone into Mexico "to
serve mankind" and TO settle the agrarian
problem were instances Of "butting in"
Finally. he "butted in" and got roundly
snubbcd for il when he issued the har-
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ultimatum 10
Carranza.
IN 50 far as his policy was positive and
constructive it signally failed. In 50 far
ms II was abjectly passive it may be said
20 have succeeded. Those who want to
claim success for it on that ground are
welcome TO the claim.