New-York tribune., 1918-06-16
Telling Mexico
Where We
Stand

wv HEN the U-boats, first made
NV their theatrical appearance
w off our shores the people of
the United States cast a
speculative eye along the coast Of Mexico
for possible submarine base. A family
hostile note crept into press discussions
of the subject. "There is not the slight
est particle Of virtue" said "The Balti-
more American"
''in avoiding mention Of the Mexican coast
as the probable location of such a base II
is evident that If the United States lacks
information upon this point, there lies be-
fore 1t the necessity for the utilization Of its
secret service, it's intelligence forces of the
army and navy, and even cruising airships
as we'll as patrols for the location of any
nest of submArnes that may exist"
While "The Charleston News and
Courier" decided that the chances were
against the existence of Mexican base,
it added that
'no patriotic American wants to give need
less offence to friendly nation, but Presi-
dent Carranza of Mexico cannot in fairness
take offence If there is good deal Of
speculation in this country as to whether
the U-boats now of this coast did not como
from Mexico"
More sober opinion was concerned with
the possible effect Of the U-boat perform
ance on Mexican synpathies. As The
Tribune suggested:
Zone bad effect of the U-boat raid will be
tho enhancement of H.
Mexico. Human nature would not be hu-
man nature If the Carranzistas did not gloat
little over the exaggerated reports Of
German submarine exploits served up to
the Mexican public.
at might as we'll be admitted that we
have few friends left in Mexico. We have
travelled far from the earlier days of the
Diaz regime, when Mexican gratitude for
Intervention against Maximiian was
still general and heartfelt The old amity
has disappeared. The incidents of the Mex
lean revolution have created new temper.
That temper, which is accentuated in the
attitude of the Carranza government is dis
trustfu and full of rancor.
"The United States can we'll afford to
make magnanimous advances toward recon-
ciliation."
Then came President Wilson's speech
TO the visiting Mexican editors, in which
he said:
II have never received a group of men
who were more welcome than you are be-
cause it has been one of my distresses dur
ing the period Of my Presidency that the
Mexican people did not more thoroughly
understand the attitude Of the United
States toward Mexico
II think can assure you, and hope you
have had every evidence of the truth Of
my assurance, that that attitude Is one Of
sincere friendship-not merely the sort of
friendship which prompts ene not to do his,
neighbor any harm, but the sort of friend
ship which earnestly desires to do his
heighbor service. "e''''
ws"So / hope you can carry back to your
homes something better than assurances
and words. .
eve did not ask whether it was agreeable
to you that we should be your big brother.
We said we are going to be. Now that was
all very we'll as far as protecting you from
aggression from the other side of the water,
but there was nothing in it that protected
you from aggression from US, and l have
repeatedly seen an uneasy feeling on the
part of representatives of states Of Central
and South America that our self-appointed
protection might be for own benefit and
of our neighbors So have said:
avery we'll, let us make an arrangement
by which will give bonds. Let us have
n common guarantee sthat all Of US will sign
q declaration of political independence and
territorial integrity. Let US agree that if
any one of US, the United States included,
violates the political independence or terri
torial integrity Of any of the others, all
others will jump on her.'"
President Wilson'S speech to the Mex
lean editors evidently hit weak spot in
Germany's armor of complacency. Even
the Socialist "Vorwarts" takes fling at
the Administrations dealings with small
neutral nations, suggesting that these
dealings "will be warning to Mexico
against the dangers threatening the
political independence Of country when
its economic dependence enters as
factor" and calls 1t "an audacious as
sertion of the President that the United
States does not seek economic advan-
tages."
In Mexico, on the other hand, press
comment on the speech was scarce and
cautious. The passage was widely
quoted, but the only prompt public COM
ment upon it came from General Garcia
Vivil, President of the Chamber Of
Deputies, who made the rather general
observation that he believed the Presi-
dents speech contained serious advice
to democratic peoples, especially Mex
leo. not to be dazzled by German mill
itarisn,, (which destroys all liberties"
Perhaps the Mexican newspapers were
waiting for hint from their leading
representatives in this country. The