New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-03-02

that country and return 10 the United
states. As Il the case in many matters
irvclving our foreign relations a great
Fart Of this criticism is based upon an
incomplete knowledge Of the facts and
a failure 10 take into consideration all
the phases Of the situation. The
Presidents advice 20 Americans TO
,cave Mexico was not by any mean. a
radical departure from the policy Of
the previous administration. Il wss
merely an affirmation and reiteration
of an apparently well considered and
y hClly justifiablc position taken BY Mr..
Taft in 1912 when he advised Amer
cans TO withdraw from localities where
conditions OF prospects Of lawlessncss
threatened the personal safety OF
Americans and when he directed con-
suar officer; 10 take charge OF aban-
Coned effect Of American citizens.
This advice was applied 70 practically
ire entire republic.
This plainly shows. therefore. tho
opinion Of the Taft administration az
that time.
"The truth Of the matter ia, II the
Taft administration had given Madero
one-tenth part Of the support and as
sistance that this administration IS
giving the de facto government. Presi-
dent Madero would most assuredly have
been successful in establishing peace
and order. the alleged crime of iluerta
would not have been committed. the
loss Of American lives and property
since that time would not have oc-
CURED and Mexico would have been
spared the horrors OF the fratricidal
war which has since prevailed there.
An Inheritance.
$50 il will be seen that the situation
IT. Mexico when Woodrow Wilson be
came President was an unfortunate in
heritance.
mir Root says il was President VIII
sons duty TO do the very things which
President Taft did not do and for
which he fails to condemn President
Taft while condemning President Will
son.
an view of all the circumstances. the
last administration had all the oppor-
tunity il could wish for TO send an
amy into Mexico If it had desired TO
avail itself Of the Justification which
Senator Root Is now urging upon this
administration.
"Mr Taft did not believe it wise 70
sacrifice thousands of lives and mill
ions of dollars in order TO intervene in
the internal affairs Of Mexico.
president Wilson has found nothing
SO far which would justify the great
sacrifice of human life which would be
necessary to obtain military control OF
Mexico.
president Wilson's Mexican policy
Las been born of the belief that no per-
manency in government would be OBJ
tanned in Mexico or in any other Amer
lean republic so long as this govern
ment was ready TO recognize every rev.
olutionst who might secure control.
80 long as governments created b.
force and financed from without can
control i'm Mexico just so long will
there be no safety Of life or security
Of property in that country.
For fifty years we have been talk
inc Pan-Americanism and Pan Amerl-
canism has been impossible because
the other American republics have al
WAYS suspected sinister purposes IN
our attitude toward them.
Convinced Latin America.
But President Wilson's policy has
made every American republic believe
for the first time that our government
has no desire or purpose 10 take their
territory or coerce their government
Out Of this European war no man can
tell what will come. but this much Is
certain that it is vital for the reace
and prosperity and honor OF the West
ern Hemisphere that there be 4 fidelity
in the pretensions and an honesty IN
the relations between the governments
Of the American continent.
"Mr. Root charges that our policy
has been vacillating, that the Presi-
dent invaded Mexico and then re-
treated. The charge IS not true. Mr..
Root has no evidence upon which 70
base such an accusation.
"Here j. the truth about the Vera
Cruz incident. Admiral Mayo was al
Tampico. American sailors and officers
were insulted by Mexican soldiers. A
boat crew and paymaster of the United
States navy were arrested on the wharf
at Tampico By Huerta's followers.
Without the knowledge and without
any instruction from the Administrs-
ton at Washington. Admiral Mayo de-
manded the release OF his men. an
epology and salute 10 the flag
Huerta's followers did not comply, and
the President backed up the demands
Of our officers. The salute was denied.
Vera Cruz was occupied, not for In
vasiOn. but 10 punish an insult 10 the
flag and the navy. With loss of 500
men Huertas band was punished and
the incident was closed. The Vera
Cruz incident did not have its origin
in or any relation 10 the fixed policy
Of President Wilson toward Mexico and
the other American republics.
"On the Mexican question Senator
~ l. l. .
veers in the shifting winds OF oppor-
tanism. What he urged President.
Wilson TO do in Mexico, he advised
President Taft not 10 do. And so | say
that Senator Roots conduct as an Of
fetal and his talk as political agi-
tator illustrate the difference between
the conservatism of responsibility and
the anarchy of speech.
evidently Mr.. Roots opinion as 20
what should be our Mexican policy
shifts from day TO day. He is for any
policy that at the moment promises
the most votes for the Republican
party. Anyway il is "a source of con
ISOLATION 70 know that as d United
States Senator he approved, though as
a political agitator he condemns, the
policy which President Wilson Is fol-
lowing in Mexico.
Lusitania Issue.
For a statesman who had long en-
loved reputation for poise and bal
ance Mr.. Roots attitude on the Lusi-
tania issue s amazing and ineXpicablc.
He claims that If the Lusitania notes
meant anything they meant that ac-
tion was forthcoming and he concludes
that the correspondence IL now APP
preaching its end without securing even
that partial protection which Is desir-
able for the future. lie ignores what