New-York tribune., 1916-06-19
ARBITRATION WITH MEXICO
A Southern Democrat Questions Its Use
Under Existing Circumstances.
To the Editor Of The Tribune.

To the Editor OF The Tribune.
SIR: The latest Mexican policy as given
out by the officials at Washington, is TO submi:
to international arbitration the numerous
points of dispute between this government
and Mexico. A treaty Of arbitration presup-
poses that The contracting parties have the
power of carrying out the decision Of the
court. Should the matter in dispute be de-
ciGed by the court in favor of the United
States, would Carranza or Mexico be willing
and able to carry out the terms Of the award
viii the people Of Mexico in case a de-
cision is adverse to them, sustain Carranza
in his efforts 70 enforce the terms Of the
compact or will they again break out into
revolution and again consig their country
to anarchy? On the other hand we have
been frequently told that "wicked oil com.
panes and others, eager for wealth are re-
sponsible for the revolutions in Mexico for
the purpose Of forcing Intervention in Mex.
co by the United States" Granted But
should the international court Of arbitration
render n decision adverse 70 the United
States, will the wicked oil men and others be
good and refrain from creating any more dis
turbances in Mexico?
In matters of an international nature a
statesman should not only know the temper
of the people among whom he lives. but also
the temper of the people with whom he seeks
to deal That the policy Of this government
toward Mexico is a benevolent one goes with
out saying But do the people Of Mexico
understand and appreciate our atruistic al
titude? The history Of Mexico shows that
save during the regime of Daz IL has had an
inrumerable series of revolutions. Since Diaz
has been driven from the country it has been
practically in a state of anarchy, and there
IS little or no hope that the future will be
any better than the present. The only hope
for peace and order in Mexico Is for it 70
have a strong and active government such as
was given it by Diaz. But whence is that
mG@ to come? Nature is never prodigal with
miracles
Again We are told that "if the oil com.
panes and others who are seeking % eX-
plot the riches Of Mexico for their own per-
sonal ends would stay out OF that country
the disturbances would cease and Mexico
would have a stable and orderly government
That statement is but a half truth. Show
me the road that leads to wealth and power.
and | will show you the road that will be
trod by men, il matters not what nation they
come from Just long as Mexico contains
great mineral and other wealth just so long
will men from all sections Of the globe eager
ly crowd thither in search of the means u
power. There is only one way % prevent
II and that is by destroying the sources of
wealth and converting the land into desert
Did not the wicked oil men," etc, engage IN
scuiiie for this wealth, the Mexcans them
selves would DO so, and then first the down
trodden masses and then the high caste
Mexican would be uppermost. Il will take
many, many years Of education and training
in self lf-goyenment ere the Mexican people
can be left 20 themselves.
All Of this is antagonistic 20 the precep's
Of grape juice philosophy, but 10 IS approved
by the teachings OF history. The writer IS
a Democrat, but he is one among many thou
sand Democrats in the South who are OF the
opinion that the Bryanic farce, "our benevo-
lent policy toward Mexico" has Jagged TOO
long upon the stage, and that the hour has
come when we should ring down the curtain
CHARLES E. CHIDSEf.
Pascagoula, Miss. June 5, 1915.