The sun., 1916-09-05
WILSON UTTERANCE
AMAZES DIPLOMATS
Latin Americans Cannot Rec
oncile Speech With Conduct
Of Foreign Affairs.
PERU A CASE IN POINT
Recognition Of Benavides Even
Gravcr Than Refusal to
Approve Hucrta.

WARRINGTON. Sept. latin Ameri-
"a diplomats are amazed at the state
ment in President wilson's speech Of &C.
ceptance: 80 long as the power OF rec
ignition rests with ma the Government
of the United States will refuse TO *
tend the hand Of welcome TO any one
who obtains power In a sister republic
by treachery and violence"
This is the Presidents explanation OF
his refusal to recognize Huerta and of
his Mexican policy. Yet the records
show that President Wilson has deliber-
steiy violated this dictum In several in
stances since the case Of Huerta arose.
The most fragrant example was the
Presidents recognition extended to Col.
Benavides. head Of the revolutionary
Government in Peru. In February. 1914.
His Government was founded on assas-
sination. established by assassination
and had 10 vestige Of constitutional au-
thority back Of II. 1t came into power
on February 4. 1914. when Col. Bena-
vides led the garrison troops against the
national palace at Lima. imprisoned
President Billinghurst and assassinated
the. Minister OF Wal and all others who
opposed the coup d'etat.
More fragrant Than Mexico.
Minister McMinin reported these facts
fulH to Washington and assumed tina,
thit Government would decline to sane.
tio1 the newly established regime. The
cas- was identical with the Huerta case
In Mexico. except a much more fragrant
S,ip1aeipn nf cha anirif NJ sSnpIlar Rnvoru,
ment. Huerta had Madero and Vice
President Suarez imprisoned. but he be
came President OF Mexico under provi'
sioAs OF the constitution providing fol
he.successlon OF the Minister OF Foreign
AfAirs upon the disability Of the Presi
dert. Huerta's accession to the Presi
dency was confirmed by the Mexican
Cohgress.
Benavides came into power simply b,
killing off those who opposed him. Hi
acts had no basis whatever In the con
stitution Of the country and were no
confirmed by the Peruvian Congress. Hi
sole backing was a junta Of co~nspirator
which forced their will on the unapprov
ing people by means OF ready rifle bull
letA Under these circumstances Minis
ter McWilliams naturally assumed tina
President Wilson would have nothing q
10 with Benavides and his tunta. Tn
President shortly before this had state,
In . speech at Mobile. Ala. I'VE mus
follow the purse OF high principle. no
expediency. no matter what the pres
suis. To 10 otherwise would be untru
to ourselves"
Envoy IL Surprised.
NJ. Mcmillan was therefore midi.
surprised when he was instructed b,
President Wilson to call on the newly es
tablished BenRvides and graciously con
fer the recognition OF he United state
Government upon him.
In explaining this the President simpl,
aid that ''expediency dictated the recos
milton OF the revolutionary government
OF Peru" lie told his advisers that h
had not liked the personality Of Billins
hurst. He was chagrined also with tn
news that Billinghurst had intended I
dissolve the Peruvian Congress. whic
the President said would nave been a
demonstrations act.
Latin American diplomats at the tim
were %asuounded to learn Of the Pres
dents action in Peru. They found tina
II was impossible to know where tn
President stood on any matter Of prir
ciple. and informed their government
that the Presidents personal within
doubtless were to he his guidance in cor
Quoting this Governments Latin-Amer
can policy.
Action In Santo Domingo.
At the same time the President WI
working for and against this principle
not recognizing governments estat
lished by violence in his dealing wit
Santo Domingo and Hayti. In Santo Do
mingo he had ordered Mr.. Sullivan
United States Minister there. to infori
the revolutionary clcment that the Unite
States not only would refuse TO recof
nize n new government. but would Us
all the armed forces OF the country
impose its will upon the Dominica
people In favor Of the government whiC
was then established.
In respons To complaints from II
Dominicans that they were a free Poop
II should be masters Of their own de.
TIMES. the President waved this aside q
OF no consequence. and indicated that
n not the Dominican people would di,
tate how they were TO be governed, al
by whom.
The tirmness Of the Administration
It's dealings with Santo Domingo hs
been one OF the features of the Pres
dents foreign policy. In this case wa
and armed Intervention governed the A,
ministrat!on. No p%arleying or dlscussio
or arbitration has been considered.
6anto Domingo has since learned thi
II was the logical prey for the powerfl
Government Of the United States. an
was to be exploited by tine Administr.
ton In search of places ''for DESERVE
Democrats" and held to do the Pres
dents bidding by means of United Stat.
marines On land and a Gordon Of wa
ships OF sea. This Is the trend ~ con
ment among Latin Americans here.
Violence COndOned In HRytI.
But they point out that the President
policy In Hayti was along the line of e,
pediency again. for expediency dictate
that they condone the acts of Fresidei
Zamor in 1914, despite that Zamor use
Huerta's methods Of violence with goo
effect. In applying the principle Of re,
ognixing governments by violence, Il
President acted Numerically In opposi
directions In Hayti and Sant0 Doming
But SO far as dominating small nation
was concerned. the President follow.
about the same procedure. it is "a
Hayti a no armed forces to oppo,
United States marines.
The President has been dominatir
that country with marines for montl
past. and any assemblage OF the Ha,
tians to endeavor to manage their ov
affairs In nipped in the bud by a fusi
lade Of bullets from the American force
According to diplomats the chief difre
ences between the revolutions in Mexic
Hayti and Santo Domingo In that in Il
last two countries American men a,
nsnsrNAn hAkn mot Ioaa =,