New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-10-19
A MILKsOP ADMINISTRATION
Politics in Foreign Affairs the
Countrv's Curse Now.

To the Editor o. ne lHou'''
Sir: Is there TO be no end to ine phrase
ology? 81
Ncyico,
The property Of an American and Of Ger
man near Torreon. was confscated. They
both went 20 Mexico City. The American
received a ticket home and verbal kick
ont Of the country ne had no business TO
bo there. The German was paid in full for
his claims, II that be the result Of mill
tarlsm let us have militarism instead OF
theoretical dissertations on the Me1icans
holding an election!
An American company paid Huerta an as
sessment on their cotton crop. They subse-
cr,n-lv paid ono 10 Villa. The second via
demand was met by a refusal to pay. Their
cotton was seized, rebaed and sent to
Toxins. Rcplcvin was attempted, but could
not be effected because they could not iden-
tfv the cotton by its markings. Company
officials and Villa agents came 20 Wash
ugton and the State Department was APP
recalled 20. The revolutionary agent ohered
10 sell The cotton and divide the proceeds
equally, The Secretary Of state thought
this fine way out OF the tanc'e Inc
companv refused IT, II the cotton was theirs
ION what other grounds could the Villa
agents make such an ofer? they wanted
il all If IL was not theirs they wanted
ronc OF H. The Secretary Of state then
.uccested that the cotton be sold and the
company take two-thrds and villa one-third
ON Che company refusal to consider ans
.-cpositior that did not restore 70 them
ID their cotton the State Department washed
its hands Of the whole affair.
Two business acquaintances were got
out Of Tampico alive, with only the clothes
On their backs, through the German Consul
The American Consul admitted ne was
worse than helpless.
Support the President? For what pur-
nose and TO what ends? Shall we send
demands" and notes about submarine do
ings which are at least debatable- yet
stand back meekly and see England inter
ferc with our trade at will with one hand
and borrow our money with the other
Ye, the state Department gravely announces
tha; there is no way to reach the censorship
on 10 adjust cargo seizures.
repeat: To what ends are We to declare
ourselves Americans and for America first?
IF there were ever an inconsistent, milk
SOD administration il is in power at Wash
ington to-day.
Shall we bond ourselves for millions OF
dollars for ornaments that must be strapped
in twenty years at the outside?
The curse Of this country has been
politics: politics is now being played re-
gardiug our foreign affairs and regarding
our defence programme. Then talk about
America first! Let us get out of our
heads a lot Of sentimental nonsense about
hvphcnatod Americans and look things in
the face especially foreign affairs. We
need Root or Hay; then let US talk
about America first and about ornaments
and defence programmes efterward.
Not long ago ! asked an official Of
foreign company engaged in business in
Mexico what his company proposed doing
about their losses there. His answer gave
food for thought. lie said: "Our company
will present to the United States through
our government a claim for the losses and
damages" This happened TO be an Eng
lish company. too. How does this fit in with
our grandiioquent Mexican policy" If we
have one?
Il is perfectly safe 20 predict that AT the
dose Of the European war we will be told
TO clean up Mexico or let Europe do It.
Which are we going 10 do? Would not
this be a good time TO exercise foresight
not hitherto displayed in our foreign deal
ines. OF are we 10 give England, say, a free
hand in all respects? And are we to have
the wool pulled over our eyes by the buga-
boo 'trash about hyphenated Americans?
About policies about America FIRST? About
millions TO be expended for "a defence
policy" Matched overnight?
II there ever was time calling for clear
thought. sound reasoning and farsighted
judgment il now confronts Us.
New York, oct. 10, 1915. F. W. {.