Phoenix tribune., 1919-01-25
Hands Off In
Mexico Affairs

NOW Inat the European war is over,
the oil interests have launched an
other propaganda campaign for the
purpose Of working up public senti-
ment for Intervention in Mexico. OF
course, there are plenty of excuses.
Convenient border clashes" always
can be arranged with some of the
itinerant bands of Mexican brigands,
and these affairs are magnified and
played up by the special interest press
which long has wanted to see Merico
made virtual dependency of the
United States.
The real reason for intervention"
concerns the Mexican oil fields. Presi-
dent Carranza has a program that
calls for the naturalization of these
tremendously rich natural resources,
and American and British private in
terests which now own these oil fields
having obtained them from the cor
rupt Diaz at a ridiculously low valua-
tion-are determined to overthrow the
Carranza government, if necessary,
and slaughter many thousand Mexi-
cans rather than forfeit these precious
privileges.
All lovers of real democracy will
oppose this attempt to interfere with
the affairs of a neighboring nation on
such a specious pretext. Mexico has
perfect right to nationalize her oil
fields, and instead Of military inter
ference, the United States might do
well to follow this example. Those
who are familiar with conditions in
Mexico know the tales of anarchy are
grossly exaggerated and that many Of
them are deliberate inventions with
no foundation in fact. Mexico is be-
ing lied about, just as Russia is being
misrepresented, by special interests
which have very sinister and selfish
purpose in lying.
1t is true that Mexico has been in
an unsettled state since the overthrow
of Diaz But these disorders invari-
ably follow revolutions and are the
result of the oppression which caused
the revolution. Four years ago this
violence reached it's climax. Since
Carranza came into power there has
been a slow but steady improvement.
Brigandage has been confined to spo-
radio outbreaks-some of them un-
doubtedly fomented from this side, Of
the border-commerce has shown
steady increase and railroad building
has been resumed Moreover, Mex
leo now has a constitutional govern
ment which is really representative
of the people.
Carranza himself, although he has
been maligned persistently, seems to
have a progressive program which in
cludes an extension Of rural schools,
the establishment of agricultural ex-
pertinent stations, the improvement
of labor conditions, and recognition
of the equal status of women. His
program also calls for the nationali-
zation of great natural resources-and
this explains why there is demand
that the United States intervene. The
oil interests of this country and Great
Britain are trying to get this govern
ment to pull their chestnuts out of the
fire. This tells the whole story. The
high-sounding excuses are nothing but
camouflage to cloak the villainy of
their real designs.
We cannot believe that the present
administration will lend itself to any
such enterprise and we are confident
that public opinion in America is
strongly against interference in Mex
leo. That country has a right to work
out its own destiny and regulate its
own domestic affairs. Intervention at
behest of the oil inretests would be
military Imperialism on par with
that practiced by Prussia.-Courier
News, Fargo, N. D.