Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1917-05-04

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rotary, to give the impression that the
move to induce Mexico and Japan to
make war upon the United States was
undertaken only recently, and then
simply as matter of "selfdefense,"
Is not borne out by facts which the
New York Herald claims long to have
had in its possession and which now
may be made public. Their publica-
ton also will throw a new light upon
the much criticized persecution of
Victoriano Huerta by President Will
son, his efforts to depose the Mexican
dictator, his anxiety to bring about
the equalization of the Panama tolls,
his interest In the purchase of the
Danish West Indies, his activity in
Haitian affairs, and his "watchful
waiting" policy under strongest provo
cations from Mexico.
That Germany was plotting early in
1914, Six months before the European
war started, to bring on war between
the United States and Mexico and
make that war the beginning of a
world conflict, Is statement coming
from war observer, an American,
who is in position to know much of
what has been back of the diplomatic
moves made in Washington during the
last three years.
The New York Heralds inform
ant makes this revelation now only
because the news of Germany's plot
to induce Mexico and Japan to enter
war against the United States has
removed whatever diplomatic reasons
there were for secrecy.
Panama Tolls Question.
This Observers information is that
President Wilson knew as early as
February 10, 1914, that Germany was
meddling In Mexico and that he had
this in mind when, in his address tC
congress on March 3, 1914, urging
equal tolls for foreign and American
ships using the Panama canal, hs
said:
II ask this of you in support of the
foreign policy of the administration
/ shall not know how to deal witt
/ otltl luulttio VI cNth BICdlti uNhNoNs
and nearer consequence If you do no
grant 1t to me in ungrudging meas
ure."
This was the beginning" says tn
Herald's informant "of whisperings IL
| Washington's official circles that Ger
many was trying to entangle the Unit
ed States in war with Mexico. Befor'
the president made this speech lfe ant
the members of his cabinet were abou
the only Americans who had TIL
slightest knowledge Of Germany's &c
tivities, and even they did not ut tina
time realize their true significance.
Later, as l will show further on
President Wilson was made full
cogniZant of the extent of Germany
intrlgues and knew that the German
government had determined to seiz
the island of Haiti, to establish u ma
val base at Mole st. Nicholas, To begi
war with the United States and dc
stroy the Monroe Doctrine, so tina
South and Central America might b
thrown open to German colonization
That was very clearly begun %
the evening of July %, 1914, and III
doubtedly would have been starte
that night had not Austria dt
clared war on Serbia on the sam
date, thus calling off Germanys a'
tlvities from this side of the Atlanti
for the time being. l shall speak
this little later, but now Will tur
back to Mexico and follow the 81
quence of events there.
British Enjoys Trip.
"Huerta had been the facto pres
dent of Mexico a little more than
year when on February 10, 1914, 1t wa
announced in Washington that 81
Lionel Garden. the retiring BIRTHS
minister to Mexico, was coming
Washington and that Sir Cecil Sprln;
Rice. the British ambassador, had a
ranged for him to have conferenc
with President Wilson. This was sii
niflcant because Mr.. Wilson had &
first objected to receiving Sir Lion
because of the latter's show OF frien'
ship for Huerta. President Wilson
feeling toward Sir Lionel had becoH
such that Sir Edward Grey and II
premier, Mr.. AsQuith, had tried
smooth out matters by maxim
speeches to parliament in which Il
loyalty of Great Britain was pledge
TO the United States. They declare
the British government had nothlr
but the most friendly feeling towaI
the United States and that every ste
was being taken morally to suppo
the latter's handling Of the Mexlci
problem.
at was just a little more than
month later, April 10, that Unlt'
States paymaster and several marln
who went ashore at Tampico were Il
rested by one of Huerta's general
: This incident caused Admiral Mayo
demand that Huertas soldiers salu
the United States flag and the rushil
of the Atlantic fleet of II warships
Mexican waters. Think of It'll wa
= ships to scare Huerta into saluting q
= United States That was the reas
given out. The real reason was IN
Huerta was just as much an agent
J Germany then ms he was In June, ID
4 Il