The Washington herald., 1916-07-05
Mexican Situation Clearing.

= War with Mexico may today be regarded as
cnIv a remote possibility The President of the
United States does not recognize in any of the
events of the past cause for war, and Car
ranza impressed by the movement OF Our militia
as he never was impressed by our diplomatic
communications has no desire to begin now to
give US cause to use our arms. He is dis
posed now to offer to President Wilson the op-
portunity he has awaited, to yield to Mexico
without humiliating his administration or the
country to a point beyond its endurance.
We are permitted to know in advance that
Carranza's reply to Secretary Lansing's note OF
June 20 is conciliatory in tone, as The Washing
ton Herald last Sunday predicted it would be;
that Carranza sends no ultimatum or peremptory
demand that the United States forces be with
drawn. In this latest note the first chief, II the
forecasts from authoritative sources may be re-
lied upon offers to President Wilson the oppor-
tunity he would gladly have embraced at any
time within a month after Pershngs expedl-
ton was dispatched with a great flourish OF
trumpets, but no preparation. Unless advance
information concerning Carranza's reply is alto
gether awry, it sounds no note Of defiance, con-
tains no ultimatum and no demand for the with
drawal of the punitive expedition; but 1t does
set forth that the presence of the United States
troops in Mexico is calculated to cause trouble;
it does give President Wilson an excuse grace
fully to march Pershing's army back to the
border which he unable to do without IN
vitng the countrys and ridicule so long
as Carranza maintained attitude of hostility
and defiance. In other words, the moment Presi-
dent Wilson takes the rational step Of calling out
the militia-whch almost any other American
would have taken the moment Pershing was sent
across the border-he finds the situation within
his control.
At the time Pershing's force was dispatched
the country was told that it was to get Villa,
dead or alive" and the further statement was
made that the expedition had the approval and
was promised the support of the Carranza gov
crnment. With no sign of cooperation in
Mexico our soldiers smashed Villas band, and
put the brigand chief to flight And then came
the astounding assertion from Mexico City that
the United States troops were in Mexico not only
without permission, but in defiance Of the formal
protest of the de facto government. This asser-
ton accompanied by arrogant demand
for the withdrawal of Gen. Pcrshing's army.
Obviously it was impossible for President Wilson
to comply with such demand and shred OF ma
tional self respect remain. So Carrizal followed.
But the movement of the United States militia
brought Carranza to his and now, if his
reply is truly forecasted, he offers President
Wilson the opportunity he has sought-with-
drawal without humiliation.
In Philadelphia and New York last week the
President frankly confessed his purpose to go
to greath lengths to avoid war, and even as he
spoke Gen. Pershing's army was in retreat toward
the border Whether not he OWNED the
nature of Carranza's reply, he has quite pre-
pared the country for what is to come.
Pershings force is to come in gradually, with
no prodding from Mexico City; there is prob
ability Of war unless some more Mexican soldiers
get beyond control, necesstating more delicate
negotiations.