New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-05-03
Diplomats Believe. He Is
playing Politics" in
Mexican Course.
CRITICISE KEEPING
TROOPS IN MEXICO
ENJOYS from Southern Repub-
lies Said 10 DistruSt PreSi-
dents Motives.

From TIE Tribune Bureau Z
Washington, May president Will
sons delay in withdrawing the Ameri-
can troops from Mexico according to
statements made by Latin-Americar
diplomats here 70 The Tribune is re-
garded by them as a betrayal Of the
Pan-Americsn principle and q demon
s;ration Of the Presidents insincerity.
Members Of the diplomatic corps pri-
vately declare their belief that the
President is playing politics" and that
he is false 20 his own professed ideals
in maintaining an army on Mexican soil
against the protests OF the recognized
government.
Diplomats declare. also. that Presi-
dent Wilson's Psn-Americsn pro-
nouncements have never been taken
seriously by Latin Americans. Through
out South America, they say, Elihu
Root is looked on as the real apostle
Of the Pan-Americsn idea. Their feel
ing is that President Wilson's theories
are purely academic, and that when he
gets an opportunity to put them IN
force he generally sacrifices them to
political eXpediency.
A man of international repute who
has a wide acquaintance among Latin
American diplomats here said to-day;
"The only honest thing President vii
son can do is 10 withdraw the Ameri-
can troops from Mexico at once. He
is keeping them there for his own po-
liticsl ends. 20 cover up the failure OF
the methods he has employed since the
very beginning OF his administration.
Calls Wilson Insincere.
81 have arrived at this conclusion az
sincere believer in the principle OF
genuine Pan-Americanism. l believe
fba. il America means anything II
means the promotion Of real democracy
among nations and the reputation of
\the European ideal Of great nations
Nominating small ones. Mr. Wilson be
IS this. too. in an intellectual and
theoretical way, as his speeches and
writings show. but he has failed when
BevTr the chance hss come TO translate
the belief INTO action. His postponing
Of the only logical action IN the MeNi-
can situation is only another demon
stration Of insincerity.
There is no possible justification
FOR maintaining an army IN Mexico.
II the original pursuit Of Villa was
justified as the only way of protecting
the lives Of Americans on American
soil. that object has been accom-
plished. The American army is 400
10 q
The Carranza government, weak as II
NAV be. is far better able 10 continue
the work than is an army Of about
10000 men operating 400 miles from
its base.
"But the real trouble goes hack
further. Mr.. Wilson's Mexican policy,
like every other foreign policy Of his.
has been weak and vacillating. lie
has never insisted on what was his
due from Mexico, but has chosen
rather to assert his strength when he
had no possible legal ground on which
10 stand. II he had made Mexico
understand al the outset that he would
defend American rights and let the
Mexicans settle their own internal
troubles. there would never have been
the need of an expedition such as the
present one.
INSTEAD OF that, he has refused TO
act when action was justified and has
insisted on acting when the affair was
none Of his business. His stand
against Huerta, fine as IT may appear
10 the idealist, was not Justlhed by
anv law known 20 nations or dreamed
of in international policy, and was re-
sented alike by MeXicans and South
Americans. not 10 say all the nations
OF the globe. 10 created suspicion
Throughout Latin America, while his
refusal 70 demand protection Tor
American citizens has bred contempt.
Small Republics Inundated.
"The Niagara Falls conference was
another mistake. Mr. Wilson succeed
J ed in fattering the three biggest Lat
in-American nations. Brazil, Argentina
and Chill, by inviting their represent
atiyes in Washington 20 mediate but
the smaller republics, deeply humill-
sted. said: What sort Of international
democracy is this? We have been told
that on this hemisphere all are equal
but now YOU set up the old European
standard, delegating all the influence
TO the most powerful
$50, you see, distrust Of President
Wilson by Latin-AmcrlCan diplomats
here is not rev thing. Ihey nave
never been profoundly impressed with
MS fan-AWeilcdn utlt4d"Nta' "VN""'N
they never believed he would put them
into practice when it suited him bet
ter 20 ignore them.
"The one sensible development Of the
Presidents Mexican policy was the rec
ogntion of Carranza. IL was plain that
Mexico must have some responsible
head. Carefully avoiding the previous
mistake OF consulting only the larger
Pan-American states, he called on the
six ranking Latin-American diplomats
IN Washington 20 find way out of the
tangle in which Mexican affairs hac
been since the departure of Huerta.
"But as soon as Carranzs was recog-
niZed President Wilson's common sense