Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-06-21
The Reply to Mexico.

me nlted states ndlctS the govern
ment of Mexico for grievous offenses in
the note sent yesterday to Carranza, re-
plying to the demand that the American
troops be withdrawn from Mexico. Re
citing the many affronts to which this
country has been subjected the injuries
inflicted upon its people. as a result of
the incapacity of the Mexican admins
tration to cope with the brigandage
which prevails in the northern states,
the United States resents accusations of
bad faith in the matter of sending and
keeping troops in Mexico. and especially
the failure of the Mexican government
to accept in full the assurances of this
country that it has no desire for or de-
signs upon the territory of Mexico. 1t
resists firmly the suggestion that the
duty of preventing border raids rests
upon this government alone. Perhaps
the most pointed statement of the entire
note is the following, relating to the fail
ure of Mexico to check the attacks upon
the American people:
This is the paramount obligation for
which governments are instituted, and
governments neglecting or failing to
perform it are not worthy of the name.
This is the duty for which Gen. Car
rama, it must he assumed. initiated his
revolution in Mexico and organized the
present government. and for which the
United States government recognized
his government as the de facto govern
ment of Mexico
The issue in this ease is not whether
American troops will be at once with
drawn from Mexico, but whether the
Carranza government is capable and can
give the reliable assurances of a satisfac
of the maintenance of order along the
northern boundary. American troops
are in Mexico because the government
of Carranza has thus far failed to give
such assurances and to effect such safe
guards. They have not discharged their
specific mission of capturing the brig
ands who raided the town of Columbus,
but they have proved that a vigorous
pursuit of these bands will cause their
dispersal and if continued systematical
ly, will destroy their power for mischief.
This note that has just gone to Mexico
City is not challenge or threat. It
is a distinct warming, however, of the
consequences of further hostile acts
against the people of this country on
~ nf h,-
every consideration of international OBJ
legation should be restrained by the rec
ognized government of Mexico. The
situation is undoubtedly perilous. A
column of American troops is ex
posed to attack in Mexico with slen-
der lines of communication. Large
Mexican forces have been massed, in
evident anticipation of crisis, at
strategic points near this column and
also near the boundary. obviously ready
70 strike Mexican authorities have sys
tematically worked upon the passions of
their people to cause them to regard the
United States as a monster of iniquity
ready TO seize their land. The Mexican
people have been virtually called to
arms against this country upon false
representations of its malevolent pur-
poses.
A careful reading of the necessarily
long recital OF the situation sent yester-
day 20 Mexico must convince all who are
unprejudiced that the United States has
acted toward Mexico not only in good
yai,h, bat with exceptional tolerance and
patience. and that it has today ample
grievance upon which 70 base its de-
sjsion for war if the Mexican govern
;nent fails 70 meet the issues now pre-
scented in a reasonable spirit.
War with Mexico is not desired by the
American people, but the outrageous
conduct of which they have been the
victims along the border cannot be per
initted to continue indefinitely, and if
war : the only remedy it will be waged
by This country vigorously and, it is
Hoped, TO 2 swift issue.
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