Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-08-01

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; was lifted In April, 1914 the embarg,
: was restored In May, 1914, it wa
explained that the embargo did no
apply to American shipments thru
Mexican ports, and ammunition fol
Carranza was subsequently landed a.
Tampico In September, 1914, the en-
barge was lifted on exports across tn,
border; thereupon military supplies
reached both Villa and Carranza Ir
October, 1915, an embargo was declared
on all exports of arms except to thu
adherents of Carranza. There was al
utter absence of consistent policy.
For a time we bestowed friend.
ship on Villa. Ultimately we recog-
nlzed Carranza. not on the ground
that he had a constitutional govern
ment, but that it was a de facto gov
eminent. The complete failure to Sc
cure protection to American citizens is
shown conclusively in the note Of the
secretary of state of June 20, 1916. in
which he thus described the conditions
| that have obtained during the pas,
| three years:
For three years the Mexican re-
public has been torn with civil strife;
the lives of Americans and other aliens
have been sacrificed vast properties
developed by American capital and en-
| terprlse, have been destroyed or rem
dered non productive; bandits have
been permitted to roam at will thru
the territory contiguous to the United
| states, and to seize without punish
ment or without effective attempt at
! punishment, the property of Ameri-
| cans. While lives of citizens of the
| United States who Ventured 10 re-
main in Mexican territory or to re-
turn there to protect their interests
nave been taken, in some cases bar
| barOusly taken, and the murderers,
have neither been apprehended nor
| brought to justice. Itl would
be tedious to recount instance after in
stance. outrage after outrage atrocity
after atrocity. to Illustrate the true
nature and extent of the widespread
conditions of awlessness and violence
which have prevailed
Raids Of Mexican Bandits.
The Santa Ysabel ma ssacre, the
raid at Columbus, the bloodshed at
Carrizal, are fresh in your minds.
After the Columbus raid we started
| punitive expedition We sent a thin
line of troops hundreds OF miles into
Mexico, between two lines of railway,
neither of which We were allowed to
use and which we did not feel at lib
erty 10 seize. We were refused per-
mission to enter the towns Tho thus
restricted, the enterprise was still re-
sarded by the NeXicans as menace.
Our troops faced hostile forces and Ii
| is not remarka bic that our men fell at
Carrizal. What other result could be
expected? We We're virtual wondered
to wathdraW. and without accomplish
Ing our purpose we have been with
drawing and we are now endeavoring
to safeguard our own territory The
entire National Guard has been or
dered out and many thousands of our
citizens have been taken from their
peaceful employments and hurried to
the Mexican border. The administra-
ton was to seize and punish Villa for
MS outrage on our soil. 1t has not pun
| lshed any one; we went in only to re-
| tire, and future movements are appar-
| emily to be determined by q joint com
| mission.
No Aggression by U. S.
The nation has no policy Of ag
gression toward Mexico. We have no
desire for any part of her territory.
We wish her to have peace, stability.
and prosperity. We should be ready
TO aid her in binding UP her wounds,
IN relieving her from starvation and
distress, and in giving her in every
practicable way the benefits of our dis
interested friendship. The conduct Of
| this administration has created diff
clllties, u1icb bal
| mount We shall have to overcome the
antlpathy needlessly created by that
conduct and to develop genuine re-
spect and confidence. We shall have to
adopt a new policy, a policy of firm
ness and consistency thru which alone
we can promote an enduring friend
ship. We demand from Mexico the pro-
lection Of the lives and the property
Of our citizens and the securing of our
border from depredatons. Much will
be gained If Mexico is convinced that
we contemplate no meddlesome inter-
ference With "-Lat does net CONCERN
u.s. but that we propose to insist in =
firm and candid manner upon the per-
Torrance Of international obligations.
To stable government, appropriately
discharging its international duties
we should give ungrudging support 4
| short period of firm, consistent and
| friendly dealing will accomplish more
| than many years of vacillation.
The European War.
| In this land of composite popula-
ton, drawing its strength from every
race, the national security demands
| that there shall be no paltering with
| American rights! The greater the dan
ger of divislve influences, the greater
is the necessity for the unifying force
| or just, strong and patriotic position
We countenance no covert policies, no
lntrigues, no secret schemes. We are
unreservedly, devotedly, whole hearted
ly, for the United States. That is the
rallying point for all Americans That
is my position. l stand for the un-
finching maintenance Of all American
rights on land and sea-
I'VE have had a clear and definite
mission as a great neutral nation. It
was for US to maintain the integrity Of
international law; to vindicate our
rights as neutrals; to protect the lives
OF our citizens, their property and
trade from wrongful acts. Putting
aside any question as to the highest
possibilities Of moral leadership in the
maintenance and vindication Of the
law of nations in connection with the
European war, we were entitled to the
safe guarding Of American rights. But
this has not been secured.
1--WE have had brave words in a
series Of notes, but despite our pro-
tests the lives of Americans have been
destroyed. What does it avail to use
some of the strongest words known