Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1916-11-02

Latin American diplomats are amaz-
ed at the statement In President VIII
sons speech Of acceptance: $50 long
as the power OF recognition rests with
me the Government of the United
States Will refuse to extend 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 HuertI and
of his Mexican policy. Yet the rec
ords show that President Wilson has
deliberately violated this dictum In
several Instances since the cas- iof
Huerta rose
The most fragrant example was the
Presidents recognition extended to
Col. B~enavldes, head of the revolu-
tlonary Government in Peru, in Febru-
AIRY, 1914. His Government was found
ed on assassination, established by
assassination and had no yestige of
constitutional authority back of it. 1t
came into power on February 4, 1914,
when Col. Benavides led the garrison
troops against the national palace at
Lima, imprisoned President Billing
hurst and a~ssassinated the Minister
of War and all others who opposed
the coup d'etat. s,
More fragrant Than Mexico.
Minister McAflllin reported these
facts fully to Washington ana ASSUME
ed that this Government would de-
cline to sanction the newly establish
ed regime. The case was Identical
with the Huerta cnse In Mexico, ex-
cept a much more fragrant violation
of the spirit Of popular government.
Huerta had Madero and yice-Presi-
dent Suarez Imprisoned, but he be-
came President Of Mexico under pro-
visions Of the constitution providing
for the succession of the Minister Of
Foreign Affairs upon the disability of
the President. Huerta's accession to
the Presidency was confirmed by the
Mexican Congress.
Benavides came into power simply
by killing those who opposed him,
His acts had no basis whatever In the
constitution Of his country and were
not confirmed by the Peruvian Con.
gress. His sole backing vas n junta
of consplrators who forced their
will on the unapprOving people by
means Of ready rifle bullets. Under
these circumstances Minister McMila
lin naturally assumed that Presi'
dent Wilson would have nothing .tC
do with Bennvides and his iunta
The President shortly before. this hue
stated In a speech ut Mobile. Ala
1--WE must follow the course Of hlgi
principle, not expedlencN, no matter
what the pressure. To do otherwise
would be untrue to ourselves"
Envoy 10 Surprised.
Mr.. McNfillin was therefore mild.
surprised when he was Instructed b.
President Wilson 10 call on the newl!
established Benavides and grlclousI.
confer the recognition ofs the Unite,
States Government upos, him.
In explaining this the PresldeA
simply said TINT "expediency dictate,
the recognition Of the reyslutiunar.
government Of Peru" He told his ad
visers that he had not liked the per
~sonality of Billinghurst. He was cha
grined also with the new that BIZ
linghurst had Intended to dlssolv
the Peruvian Congress, which tn
President said would have been d
unconstitutional net.
Latin American diplomats at tn
time were astonished to learn Of tn
Presidents action in Peru. The
found that 1t was impossible to kno'
where the President stood OH any ma
ter Of principle, md informed thel
governmental that the Presidents PEI
sonAi whinfs doubtless We're to be hi
guidance In conducting this Govern
,nent,a Latin.Americau policy,