The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-08-13
More Complications N Mexico.

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Causes leading to armed conflict and blood
shed on the American side Of the Mexican border
are not known in Washington, or. apparently,
even in Texas, where Americans have been killed
in fights with Mexicans. The causes are not of
immediate importance. Mexicans have been kill
ing and footing on United States soil and there
are wild rumors of contemplated invasion in
force. These lawless bands must be subdued
quickly and completely with whatever force, Fed
, eral or State, is necessary. The governor OF
Texas regarding the situation as alarming, ap-
pealed to the President for troops and some have
already reached the threatened Meantime
the administration is represented waiting to
hear from Gen. Funston before dispatching re-
endorsements. Evidently the situation is one that
permits of temporizing delay. An army
capable of successfully coping with any force that
may possibly confront it should be placed the
border Immediately. An invasion of the United
States by Mcxcans in force is not to be thought
of seriously, but our forces should be placed in
such position that they may bring to an instant
and unmstakable end any armed expedition into
Texas There would scarcely be protest against
this program, even by the advocates of peace at
any price, who may be counted upon to permit
the government at Washington to protect its ter
ritory against armed invasion without starting a
vocal campaign of opposition
With this the immediate business in hand,
there appears no present prospect of relieving the
starving and oppressed native noncombatants and
foreign residents in Mexico. Only the most op-
tmstic will look forward to any practical results
from the pan-American conference. 1t is an
nounced that the seven nations represented will
send identical notes to the factional disturbers,
calling upon them to hold council of peace, COM
pose their differences and agree on government.
The call has familiar sound We shall listen
to it again with but faint hope that it will prove
more effective when delivered in chorus of seven
voices than when rendered in solo, frequently
encored. Though it is announced that the confer
ence will meet again, when answers to the call
have been received, to decide upon any future
steps that may be necessary, it is not hazard
Gus assumption that the South American govern
ments have played their entire hand with the
sending of the identical communications. 1t has
been authoritatively announced that they are not
in favor OF armed Intervention and will have no
hand in it; so that in the event OF the failure of
the council-of-peace idea-whch is plainly ind-
cated-the exit of South America from the scene
may be confidently expected.
The one slender chance of success for the en-
deavors of the pan-American conference is that
council of peace will be held and that it will
pledge allegiance to the Carranza government
Carranza has served formal notice that he will
have part in any negotiations that can possibly
result in the elimination of his government. So
that if he is not chosen the pachcation of Mex
leo will be further of than ever, and the United
States will have made further progress backward
in its attempts to solve the problem With Car
rama, at the head of the most powerful faction,
defiant and unyielding, and the South American
governments gone from the stage, the PROPOSE
ton of recognition and "active moral support for
group of men" will again confront
the President, with the conditions changed in this
respect: he will know that forcible intervention
is not regarded with favor by the South Ameri-
can republics, our silent partners in the Monroe
doctrine.
This is prematurely pessimistc picture. 1t
is plainly the horizon. A council in which
Carranza did not participate would be no peace
council, but a council, and so would a coun-
Gil which did not agree to support the Carranza
government. The outlook is that if the United
States is to restore peace and order in Mexico
it will have to make its choice of recognizing
Carranza and helping him in his fight against his
enemies, recognizing another leader and help
ing him to subdue Carranza Meantime there is
border at Vera Cruz will shape a course for
the administration.