The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1916-11-29
MEXICO UNDER AN AMERICAN
PROTECTORATE.

Secretary Lane, as member Of the
American Mexican commission, eX.
planning the intent of the United
States government. and the real mean.
ing Of the protocol offered Carranza,
says that the policy nov, beginning is
to make a Mexico that we can live
with.
Mexico will either do right without
our help or with it, said Mr.. Lane.
With our help or without it," is a
custodial declaration. Mr.. Lane, we
assume, speaks for the president and
for the government. If congress will
write PLAT amendment into a
treaty with Mexico the policy will be
complete.
II Mexico cannot or will not restore
and maintain order the United States
will do so. If Mexico cannot feed her
people and drive out disease the Unit
ed States will do it. -..
"The world wants a new Mexico"
says Mr.. Lane. 1.-THE United States
and the countries of Europe have a
right to demand different conditions
in Mexico" IA
This policy is the one which has
been urged upon the American gov
eminent and rejected by it until now.
1t states that the case with regard to
Mexico shall be precisely as the case
with regard to Cuba. Mexico has been
exempted from the ordered processes
which the United States operates else
where in the American sphere OF in.
terest. 1t is to be included.
Cuba manages her own concerns so
long as the management produces an
orderly Cuba. 1t has been necessary
to intervene only once since the war
and since supervision was undertaken
by the United States. Americans put
the Cuban house in order, drove out
pestilences, cleaned up dirt, restored
freedom, and opened up opportunities
for people who had been among the
wretched peoples of the world. The
American proctectorate is thing rest.
ing lightly upon an ordered Cuba.
The Mexicans are another wretched
peOple, quite as wretched as were the
Cubans; but because of curious dis,
tortion of thought in the United
States the precise policy which we
regard as one of humanity in Cuba
has been regarded as an act of inhu.
manity to Mexico.
III Mr.. Lanes statement OF the ne"
American purpose means what it says
Mexico now is to have the same treat
ment that Cuba was given, with one
difference. We put the Cubans on their
feet before we asked them to maintain
orderly conditions. We arctic give
the Mexicans another chance to find
their own remedy, but the statement
of the alternative as made by Mr.. Lane
is one which creates a protectorate.
The threat makes the fact.
If the United States made wholly
practical adjustment of the Mexican
question 1t would extend the American
frontier to include the disordered
state. II would allow Americans to
share in the benefits which will come
from the encouragement of enterprise
and development of resources of a
peaceful Mexico. 1t would not allow
them to share by stealing benefits but
by enjoying them honestly. !
4 Mexico is needed as a contributor
to the sustenance of life on this con-
tinent Conditions of life are not so
luxuriant that large and rich section
can be allowed to 60 to waste. Honest
American efforts in Mexico would ap-
probably help American workers, open
markets for their work and bring in
supplies for their subsistence. 1t
would greatly help the Mexican peo.
pie. assure them thealthy living condi- |
lions, peace and enough to, eat It