Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-09-04
OF mexico
AWAITS LEAGUE
United States Would Probably
Act as Agent for United
Nations
WILSON AGAINST LONE HAND
BY CLINTON w. GILBERT
stan Correspondent of the Evening Publi
Ledger


stan Correspondent Of the Evening Public
Ledger
Washington. Sept. 4.---Nothing to be
done in Mexico until after the Or
ganization of the league of nations,
the reference of the Mexico nuisance
to the league at its first meeting in
Washington and some sort Of action
Gpsulting, with the United States as
agent of the league, this action prob
ably nonmilitary in character.
A careful inquiry into the Mexican
situation indicates that the above is an
almost sure forecast. The one pos
sibility of upsetting it is some devel-
Opmrnt in Mexico that would make
the public demand for action there ir-
resistible. Short of this the admin
istration will continue to do as it has
been doing-write notes. pay ransoms
where necessary, send minor punitive
expeditions into Mexico against the
bandits and wait.
The Presidents mind is strongly
made up against any action which
would leave Mexico on our hands. He
feels that such action would he in
consistent with all his past profes-
sions and with his general policy. He
feels. too. that any individual action
by the United States now. when the
organization of the league of nations is
in sight, would be inappropriate on
the part of the author of the league.
Annexation Sentiment Grows
There is big annexationist senti-
ment. Washington is acutely conscious
of it. The war in Europe has changed
the national attitude and it is gen
orally believed here that. whereas four
years ago there was not the slightest
sentiment in favor of adding Mexico
to the United States. now, if the United
States army entered the territory Of
our ncighbor to "clcan it up" as the
expression is. met resistance and con
quered the Mexican forces. public son
timent would keep the army in Mexico
and would make Mexico sort of dc :
mandate, perhaps, but to all intents
and purposes part of the United
States.
The annexationist propaganda is ac-
tive. II is busy in New York, as it
has been for several years, in Wash =
ineton and in FL Paso, Tex. Its way
is being made easy for it by public
impatience with the failure of the
United States not only to abate the
Mexican nuisance, but even to secure
ordinarily respectful treatment from
Mexico. Almost every interchange of
notes with Carranza works to the ad-
vantage of the annexationist propa :
ganda Newspapers which arc not
anneXationist, arc angered at the pert
ness of the Mexican first chief. They
are humiliated by the small figure this
country cuts by the repeated demon
stration of its impotence.
Bandits Help Propaganda
If the Mexican bandits were in the
pay Of the anpexationsts they could
not do more than they are doing to
promote annexationist sentiment in
this country. The holding for ran
som of two American army aviators
and the wounding of another were
master strokes. The American army
| is itching for a chance at Mexico
Much of the talk in Washington that
at last something is going to be done tc
clean up Mexico comes from army
circles. 1t is inspired by the wish Of
the army for activity and by its desire
to wipe out the stain of the failure
of the Pershing expedition against
Villa and the humiliation of having t
pay ransom to brigands for American
; officers.
The administration is aware of al
this, and is all the more unwilling t,
take any step which would lead to tn
military cleaning up of Mexico. 1t j
afraid thac, the consequences of an,
entrance into Mexico in force woul
make light Of the national pretension
about the right of self determination O
peoples.
The recent raid into Mexico in pur
suit of the bandits probably had tn
double purpose of stimulating action b
Carrauza and of demonstrating tn
difficulty Carranza has in dealing wit
the bandits. 1t was meant to quiet tn
public and to answer the demand tha
something be done. 1t was in pal
successful
For Mr.. Wilson to call the attcntio
of the league of nations to Mexico woul
be spectacular, 1t would signalize tn
first meeting of the league in Wash
ington by showing the capacity of tn
league to do something. Besides Franc
and England, two other members of tn
big five are anxious to have Mexic
cleaned up. Action by the league o
not forced sooner. is the best guess pos
ut;p0 y>u1Dlo