New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-10-11
Secretary Lanes Hard Job.


sentative on the Mexican-American JOINT
commission which has been sitting LOT
many weeks past, first at New London and
then at Atlantic City. He is expected to
stave off action of any sort by the commits
sion until after the Presidential election.
His role is to interpret successfully 10 the
Mexican commissioners the continual
shifts, turns and paradoxes of the Presi-
dents Mexican policy.
In the speech in which he accepted the
Democratic Presidential nomination MIR.
Wilson felt constrained to give his Mexican
policv some semblance of consistency. lie
therefore insisted that it had never been
his purpose to intervene in Mexico Tor the
protection of American lives or American
propertv interests. He laid down the broad
principle that the Mexicans have right to
pursue the present revolution to the end
no matter what the cost to Americans or
other alien residents. He declared that In
reference on our part would amount to a
denial to the Mexicans of 1.-The right to any
revolution at all which disturbed US" and
TO making "the emancipation Of her own
people await our own interest and con-
venience." He was ready, he said, to serve
The ends of the revolutionary movement
whenever he could, and unwilling to allow
any possible consideration of American
interests TO interfere with the accomplish
r,ent of the great task committed to Car
rama and the other eminent renrakers, re-
moulders and uplifters now busy in Mexico.
Carranzas representatives on the joint
commission would be more than delighted
TO accept these assurances at face value
But one thing troubles them. They find
Mr.. Lane and the other American commits
sioners absolutely unwilling to underwrite
Mr.. Wilson's phrases-to translate them
into a diplomatic protocol. If Carranza
and his fellow patriots are to be left unlm-
peded at their work Of emancipating
and otherwise Transforming Mexico the
Mexican commissioners are naturally I'M
able TO understand why the Pershing expe-
dition hasn't been recalled. Its recall,
they argue, would greatly enhance Car
ranza's prestige and help him to finish the
labors of reconstruction which he has
oegun.
Here is where Mr.. Lanes worries begin.
He must insist on the good faith and lofty
humanity Of the Presidents policy. But
at the same time he must demonstrate that
it should be applied with literal fidelity
to the situation which now exists. He
must prove to the Mexicans that although
theoretically they ought to be left alone to
work out their own salvation--or ruin
regardless of the consequences to our gov
eminent and our people, there are never
theless practical considerations which
make it inconvenient to give anarchy
across our southern border an absolutely
free hand. Mr.. Lane therefore continues
70 urge the Mexican commissioners to pro-
duce satisfactory guarantees that in case
the Pershing expedition is recalled some
semblance of order will be restored and at
least minimum of protection will be af-
forded to Americans and American prop
erty interests.
1t must have been with the purpose Of
injecting some wholesome sense of Mex
ico's international obligations into the
minds of the Mexican commissioners that
Secretary Lane wrote these very candid
sentences in an article which he recently
contributed TO "The Evening Post:
"Since Carranza's recognition we
have seen Americans who have gone
into Mexico on peaceful errands muir
dered; we have seen our own towns
upon the border raided and Americans
slain on American soil. These out
RACES prompted the President to send
our own troops into Mexico, and this
course cannot be otherwise construed
than as recognition of the fact that
the de facto government in Mexico
recognized by ourselves and by other
nations is not fulfilling the duty which
one government owes 10 another.
eve are in Mexico to-day, and how
long we shall stay and how far we
shall 20 depends upon the policy and
the power TO keep the peace Of the
Carranza government, but we shall go
no further than we have gone until
every effort 10 secure effective Mexi-
can cooperation fails"
This ia a statement as far removed from
the Revolution-First, American-Rights-
Afterward programme announced by Mr.
Wilson at Shadow Lawn as one pole Is
from another 1t is the antidote 70 Mr..
Wilson's fantastic sentimentality which, In
Mr.. Lanes opinion, needs to be admins
tered 10 the Mexican commissioners and
through them 70 First Reyolutionist Car
rama. II il corrective 10 the pathetic
gush Of Mr. Wilson's campaign speeches
which the country will heartily applaud.
But will IL enhance the plain-spoken Secre-
tary's popularity at Shadow Lswnf Will
n nos On thu contrary. disqualify him for