Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-11-25
Lanes Statement

After the protocol was signed Score
tary Lane issued a statement defining
to a certain extent the policy of the
United States government toward Mex
leo He stated that he believed Gen.
Carranza a strong man and that he
should be given a full chance" adding:
Mexico will either do right without
our help or with it. This her choice
His statement follows:
The full policy of the United States
with reference to Mexico is not to be
stated In a phrase or in a protocol or
series of protocols. We are to come
out of Mexico just as soon as we can
decently and in order and because we
have ether use for our troops who are
there. But this only beginning to
Q policy which will make a Mexico that
we can live with.
THE border troubles are only symp-
toms Mexico needs system treatment
not symptom treatment. She can give
II to herself and we hope she will. We
shall reserve to ourselves the right to
treat her invading bandits as they
should be treated, chasing them to a
finish. if necessary, unless Mexico gets
right into shape to do this herself. This
will serve Mexico's interest as we'll as
ours and it will be the strongest pos
sible deterrent to raids.
I'VE will help her to get into good
shape if she can understand that We
mean to be her friend. She cannot be
sick and strong at the same time. The
world wants a new Mexico where the
poor and ignorant will have better
chance. To this extent the world is
with the revolution. The world has no
sympathy with eXplojters. but it has
great respect for rights that are vested
and we shall go along with the world
in protecting such rights. But revolu-
tton must not mean anarchy.
'Carranza is a strong man, l believe
His career shows that and his followers
admire him to the point of reverence
He is the man to be given full chance
and we shall uphold him if he is sensi-
BILE Of the duties of his nation to the
ether nations. Mexico will either do
right without our help or with it. This
is her choice.
THE purpose for which this COM
mission was formed was to exert one
last effort towards making Mexico a
possible neighbor under this constitu
tionaliSt government. We do not wish
to be forced into Intervention or any
other course until this opportunity has
been exhausted. To this end we must
pass from the border matters of irri-
tation and immediate concern to the
conditions of Mexico which affect the
lives and property of our nationals.
These must be made secure, as secure
as is possible in a country where
among the masses of the people there
is a deep distrust of us. Then we
ask that with our help or without it
Mexico feed herself and drive out dis
case. There will be little banditry if
Mexico gets to work
THE miseries of Mexico must be as
suaged Her poor, naked, starving, dy-
ing poems call out for help. They do
not wish constant war and only one
per cent. of her people are actually in
the war. but all are suffering. We
cannot maintain our self respect or
be true to the highest dictates of hui
manity and see these people suffer as
they. do because of the chaos that
has come from civil war
This country is pacific, but is not
paciflst. 1t will fight, willingly when it
can fight for something worth while
and must fight. 1t is our business to
make the occasion impossible to make
this duty unnecessary if this may be.
And so, through many weeks, we have
striven to get upon a basis that will
prepare the way for a new Mexico
one in which Mexicans, Americans and
others can live with some assurance
of safety. But this is a long way off
yet"