Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-02-21

Note.-Ths is the first of three il
Eliminating articles President Will
sons international policies as they
have developed, stage by stage, consist
emily and on a widening scale, from the
Mexican problem on. through the grim
issues and perpleXing aftermath of the
world war. These articles, which ap-
peared originally in the New York Times
are by Mr.. John F. Moors, Boston law
yer who is a member of the Harvard Cor
poration and of the Boston Finance
Commission.
ITO understand the part being played by
America in the world drama of today
- one should draw aside the curtain on
President Wilson at the beginning of his first
administration, facing the suspicion and
hatred of Latin-America for this country. He
soon faced also the scOrn Of influential men
here, who could only what Mr.. Hughes
called weakness and vacillation" and "a con-
fused chapter of blunders' in the two inva-
sions of Mexico, in the retreat from Vera
Cruz, in the embargoes and repeats Of en-
bargOes on arms, in the support of now one
alleged bandit, now another, and in the re-
fusal to recognize the dictator, Huerta, when
England France and Germany-great nations
governed by the old iplomacy-recognized
him. The attacks on American citizens and
their property were held to be the only real
concern of this country. Yet in those de-
spised days the foundations were being laid
OIL America s present WOrlu l0du6rSulp. Auu
the conflict of ideals then was the precursor
of the greater conflict now.
In four addresses before the war in Europe
had shed it's lurid illumination on the world.
President Wilson expounded his conception of
new and just diplomacy. Eight days after
his inauguration he said: "One of the cher
objects of my administration will be to Guilt
vate the friendship and deserve the confidence
of our sister republics of Central and Latin.
America" Typical expressions in the other
addresses are:
"The peace, prosperity, and contentment of
Mexico mean more to us than merely an en-
larged field for our enterprise We shall yet
prove to the Mexican people that we know
how to serve them without first thinking how
we shall serve ourselves. Human rights, nat
ural integrity and opportunity, as against ma
terial interests, that is the main issue which
we now have to face. The United States will
never again seek an additional foot of terri
tory by conquest. l know what the response
of America will be, because America was
created to realize program like that. We
are the friends of constitutional government
in America; we are it's champions, because in
no other way can our neighbors, to whom we
wish to make proof of our friendship, work
out their own development in peace and lib
erty.'
From these addresses conservatives selected
two words, "watchful waiting and ignored
the rest.
After the outbreak of war in Europe red
blooded'' Americans became more exasperated
with him. But he went his way unperturbed.
steadily developing his conception of the mis-
sion of America On December s, 1914, he
said:
eve are true friend of all nations
Therein lies our greatness We are the cham
plons of peace and concord. 1t is our dearest
hope that this character and reputation may
presently, in Gods providence, bring us an
opportunity seldom vouchsafed any nation, to
counsel and obtain peace in the world and
reconciliation and healing settlement
On May 10, 1915, addressing newly natur-
allied citizens, just after the Lusitania had
been sunk, he spoke of America as ''the hope
of the world" and said:
my urgent advice to you would be, not
only to think of America first, but also to
think first of humanity. America was created