The Washington herald., 1916-06-29
A Step Toward Temporary Peace.

Release OF the United States soldiers who
massacre, at Carrizal would be step toward
restoration of peace between this country and
Mexico; though great deal more would have to
Re done before we should have any to
look for peace that would be of more than brief
duration. The setting free of the cavalry1nen,
even though accompanied by Carranza's dsa-
vowal of the CarrizaI attack would give the
people of this country no cause for ubilation.
1t would sarily invite further temporizing,
that after being utilized to advantage by the
Carranza government might soon be followed by
another attack with results even more disastrous
than at Carrizal. Past experiences should have
taught us to expect nothing less; for we know
now, if we know anything, that we dealing
with crafty and treacherous foe.
Before indulging in any rejoicing over the
release of the cavalrymen and a dsavowal from
Carranza, if these events come to pass, most
Americans will seek to determine their exact
relation to the situation our controversy with
Mexico has brought about This government
and people quite convinced that the Carrzal
attack was made in obedience to Carranza's or
der. One of his generals warned our own forces
that if they moved in any one of. three direc-
tons, such movement would be regarded an
act of and would be resented We accepted
the challenge, moved our forces and the first
actual battle of the war was fought, one-sided
though it was. 1t is known that the whole pro-
ceeding by Carranza's direction. II he
now disavows it and sets the prisoners free and
as result refrain from prosecuting war
against him. in what way will the situation have
been changed to our advantage? What about the
dead American soldiers? How are we to guard
against another such blow to be disavowed later
by Mexico City, if army is kept in Mexico !?
We may well wait for satisfactory answers to
these questions before beginning to rejoice that
war has been averted
When the cavalrymen have been released and
Carranza has disavowed when we have charged
against the Mexicans another slaughter of Amer
leans and withheld the avenging fire of our
armies, the status quo before the Carrizal attack
will have been restored; the Washington govern
ment will be in the position OF insisting upon
maintaining troops in Mexico for the purpose Of
bunting bandits, while Mexico City will be in
its same attitude of resisting. After these nego-
tatlons have been resumed, if the performances
oi the de tacto government during the pas four
months may be taken a guide, we may expect
new ulumatum from Carranza or one Of his
officers; and again we shall be called upon to
decide between going forward and retrcati1g
That would appear to be the whole present
situation in Mexico. We must do Carranza's
will or he must do ours and il we reject the
former alternative then we must advance with
determination and in force with no thought OF
turning back. Before can view the Mexican
situation with the least feeling of satisfaction or
assurance something beyond the release OF pris-
oncrs and the disavowal of hostile policy de-
hbcrately carried out at the cost OF scores OF
lives of American soldiers must be forthcoming
Tcmporizing and a blind disposition to re-
gard the Carranza government as friendly. in
spite OF lessons so dearly brought are again the
Pcrlls OF the moment. Until learn that moth
ing but force avais in dealing with the present
government OF Mexico must continue to be
its victims and its dupes