New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-27
Protocol Is Unsigned;
Joint Commission
TO Dissolve
WILSON FACES
EUROPE'S ANGER
President Must Act, but
Does Not Sec What
lie Can Do

r-sr lH, T-selne Buros-
Washington. Dec. 26.-The American
v,r,,,n ioint commission, after nearly
~, months Of marking time. prseti'
.,uv expired to-day. having settled
.,l,,r Csrrsnzs has ignored the
,~rissn ultimstum. and the dead
f,.,is complete. The commission may
r,,t sgsin 20 20 through the formally
O., adjourrns. but nothing will be
s.r,a, ,hc meeting unless one side o.
.e other backs down.
The Pershiuc expedition remains
.orr In Carfanzas side. The National
Guard STAYS on the border. Csrrsnza
..nains obduratc. President Wilson
must make the next move, but does
10. know yet what il viii be.
The Mexican situation. which has
.s.ep more Of President Wilson's at
-,oron m The last four years than
on, other single problem. is in a worse
.s.e today than ~ any other tune
noe Vera Cruz was evacuated. ihis
admitted by hgh officials Of inc
Administration. Something must be
lone. they agree.
The President would be content TO
.e matters take their course for
ame longer. but nc has been forced
recently TO the conclusion that Mexico
nus, he reckoned with definitely and
s,sl,y before the European war comes
% aa end.
Monroe Doctrine or not, Europe
uod Of American adding with prop
.., 1e5.5 in Mexico II Europe we're
.ot so usy with q gigantic wsr' the
gorroc Doctrine would long since have
ufcrcd a severe strain. This fact has
been made elain TO the Administration
a ao uncertain terms.
Positive action Required
A high Administration Official said
o..., that this fear Of European in
.venuon was going TO drive the Unit
d states into direct and positive ae-
to1 ON the Mexican question within a
hort time. unless convincing evidence
appeared that Carranza was able 20
ra.ier the situation TO the satisfaction
,l foreign interests. But this official
bss no more notion than Mr.. Wilson
anself what the action viii be, or
What kind Of evidence would be neces-
.sg 70 forestall d..
Csrsnls has fatty rejected the
Ansr,sn protocol because he believes
Ia, TO ign 10 woula be 10 recognize
he American punitive expedition. This
ts will never do The American com
r.ssoneis gave him until to-day to
,dsnge h.. mind but at a late hour to-
nist; their ultimatum was unheedcd.
There is no disagreement on ma
.srial points. President Wilson wants
lsrrsnza 20 sign the protocol to save
he Administrations face. Long ago he
determined not 20 withdraw the
Pcrshing expedition until he had made
Csrrsnza wal.ow bitter medicine. The
First Chief had had the presumption
70 demand peremptorily the with
gfawsl OF the American forces. There
ore they could not be withdrawn,
rnsiher their mission was accom-
i.shed or not. until the First Cmei
'ae eaten bis worcs
About Soc same time Csrrsnza re-
e.ved that he would never consent TO
any condition which the American gov
eminent might stipulatc for the with
aisvsl o. ,hv troops. Tho United
Mates hsd invaded Mexico without
skiing hs consent. Mexican sovcrcigr-
. had been violated. The United
eisies must get out uncondiuonsily.
e te should sign any sort o. agree
lsnt Tor the retirement It would be
'esNalent 90 recognizing the legality
o. the American invasion.
Pershing al Disadvantage
But this is al matter of form.
10 fact Is that President Wilson 10
!ssi a. anxious 70 get the troops out
s Csrrsnza u.s. They are serving no
'srpose IN Mexico. Villa is campaign.
hg hundreds Of miles away. Military
operls say Pershing's long, thin line
oissdvSntageously placed for real
aAilsry operations and Is not even IN
roo position TO defend the border. On
ne other hand. 10 Is exposed 20 attack
pa al sides and would seriously ham
tt the United States DO case Of war
'gn CSTranza.
europe is inpatient Of this quibbling
s,tf non-essentisls The facts as they
Ypear 20 European statesmen. whose
s."s have been communicated 90 the
Nt Department. are that the United
,-'ss Is embracing Carranza and at
same time stsbbing him in the
sssk; is refusing 20 permit the estsb-
.snment Of strong government and
,using to permit weak one ~
Sshgthen itself; IL refusing 10 help
"eAiCo or 10 lct any other povcr heip