New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-09-13
Carranza-or Nothing?

It is a popular thing in administration
circles in Washington to describe General
Carranza as opinionated, pompous and IN
tractable. a leader of narrow mind and
small capacity, who owes his tenure OF
power 10 the exertions Of others. Yet on
every issue which the administration has
made so far with Don Nenustlano 1t has
come out a pretty poor second.
In his diplomacy Carranza has shown
both courage and consistency. lie has
hewed to che line, refusing TO commit
himself to any projects which seemed to
him to impair Mexican sovereignty or to
recognize the right of foreign powers 70
intervene for the purpose Of recognizing
the Mexican government. 1t has required
q good deal of logged persistence on his
part to resist the sort of outside pressure
70 which Huerta yielded and 20 which villa
has been willing to yield. When he was
far weaker than he is to-day he protested
against the American occupation Of Vera
Cruz, and he refused to send representa-
tives to the futile Niagara Falls confer
ence because the A. B. C. mediators de-
clined to define in advance the scope Of
that conference or the conditions under
which he was expected to enter it.
Even when his own fortunes looked
Ablackest. when the military convention
|was captured by his enemies and he was
3pbliged TO retire from Mexico City to Vera
ruz. he repealed all suggestions that he
Mould acknowledge the breakdown OF his
kpvernment and give pledge to retire IN
vor of some new executive, to be chosen
der foreign auspices by representatives
all the Mexican factions. Now that
is stronger than ever before, he natu-
V refuses 70 enter the conference
ned by the Pan-American Committee
,rms that would put him on an equal
It'll defeated and almost eXtinguished
kactiouists like Villa and Zapata.
Call it right or call it wrong, Carranza' S
policy has been straightforward, open and
logical. Being so, it has offered a striking
contrast 10 the Mexican policy Of the
Wilson administration. While he has
hewed to a straight line the Washington
administration has travelled in circles.
Mr.. Wilson boycotted Huerta and used
every influence short of an actual advance
on Mexico City to drive Huerta out OF
Office. He seized Vera Cruz, but then
turned his quarrel with Huerta over to
the A. B. c. mediators. He announced that
the United States was going into Mexico
"to serve humanity" that service includ-
ing transfer of the great landed proper
ties from the hands of the hacienda mag
mates into the hands of the poems.
Soon, however, Vera Cruz was evacu-
ated and the idea of serving humanity"
in Mexico was abandoned. At Indianapo-
lis. on January last, Mr.. Wilson said
that. so far as ne was concerned, the
United States would do nothing to IN
terfere with the Mexican people in their
efforts TO create a government which
! suited themselves. Yet six months later
he issued an "ultimatum' threatening
American Intervention unless the faction
chiefs stopped ravaging the country and
got together The war continuing, ne re-
ouested the Latin-American countries TO
help him bring pressure on Mexico, 1t be-
\ ing understood that that pressure should
Bic moral only. and should not include
anything like actual military Intervention.
General Carranza has declined to par
ticipate in the conference planned by the
Pan-American mediators. His recent mil
itary successes and the evidence given by
his subordlnates of loyalty to him have
encouraged him in the belief that his gov
eminent is the only one in Mexico at pres
ent entitled 70 consideration. He virtually
asks for recognition. The administration
would like TO boycott him as it boycotted
Huerta. But from a practical point OF
view his government is now about the
only rallying point for order in Mexico.
Overthrow it, and what is left? 1t may
not be a very admirable form of govern
ment But Mexico is in ertremis. She
will have TO take the most promising
savior in sight. Unless something is done
soon there will be little worth saving.
When the Pan-American medators
meet again this week they will have &c
face a choice between Carranza and
h chaos. The administrations policy in
j Mexico has led steadily toward chaos.
Y1ealization Of that fact should make u:
eager 20 end anarchy and very modest
about charging on Carranza's faults.