The Washington herald., 1916-03-28
The Real Concern in Mexico.


Apprehension in this country concerning the
safety and welfare Of the American troops in
Mexico can best be allayed by fastening ar
agreement by Washington and TIE de facto gov
ernment to the pending protocol which is to
provide for the use of Mexican railroads for the
purpose of transporting supplies to our soldiers.
Since it is admitted that the roads are not to be
used before the protocol is signed the decision
OF the Republican Senators to keep hands off the
Mexican situation for the present is gratifying.
Anxious the administration is to avoid irri-
tating the Carranza following, it realizes, OF
course, that there must not be hours unnec-
essary delay in reaching agreement, because
it is certain that Congress cannot be held in
check for long under present conditions that an
insistent demand will soon be heard that supplies
go forward over the Mexican roads with or
without permission of the de facto government,
and that the necessary military force be pro-
vidcd to insure the success of such movement,
Unless the President is in possession of a
great deal more information than was made pub
lie in his statement of last Saturday he is fully
aware that Congress, in its present frame OF
mind, is far more likely to be the Of
woundng Mexican sensibilities than any of those
unnamed persons along the border whom he &C
of circulating false and sensational stories
for the purpose Of bringing about intervention.
And if it his belief that Congress be-
ing influenced by such stories, then it would
seem that his warning should have been ad-
dressed to the Senate and House rather than to
the general public
Knowing no than they been permitted
to know so far the people generally will be
Ill AZ. Il -. 4
too much importance to the influence OF these
border tales and not enough to the effect the
public mind of conditions which it is admitted
exist. The very fact that the Mexican railroads
are urgently needed for the transportation Of
supplies to the American troops, and that they
are not promptly made available is more dis
turbing than a dozen sensational stories Of
doubtful origin coming from the border The
people are apprehensive for the safety of the
troops because they have no confidence in Mex-
can assurances, and long as they are appre-
hcnsive they will discuss with feverish interest
every possibility involved in the punitive exped-
ton. Until Pershings line of communication is
thoroughly safeguarded, with supplies being sent
to him unnterruptcdly and with Dispatch and
until adequate rc-enforcements are in readiness
the public mind will be agitated, and it will not
be claimed by warnings against interventionsts
along the border.
The President, having deemed it advisable to
put the people on their guard against false tales
from the border, it is rather to be regretted that
he did not go further and give details of the in
PREVENTION plot. There may be no way of deal
ing with the offenders under the law. but it
would seem that at least the censorship might
be invoked, and if not, then some advantage
might be gained by giving the public informal
ton that would enable it to distinguish the
true from the false.
As it is the public is mystifed not only by
the Presidents statement but by charges made
by Senators that Villa is receiving financial and
other aid from this side OF the border If these
latter charges are true they mean treason, a
crime for which the law provides severe penal
ties. Made publicly by United States Senator's
presumably there is some basis for them and
this should have been revealed to the Secret
Service and Senators should have remained silent
while that organization investigating.
But with all these things the public is far
less concerned than it is with the situation Of
Pershng and his army, and its anxiety will not
be relieved until the placing of the Mexican rail
roads at our disposal gives evidence of friendly
cooperation the part of the Carranza gov
ernmcnt. That they suspicious of the red tape
and the delay is not unnatural