The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1919-01-07
MEXICO AGAIN

NILAkCO tAOftl1N
Ever since the assassination of Madero
Mexico has been a dangerous neighbor
OF the United States, always in POSSIBLE
ity, frequently in fact-turbulent, disord-
eled, disaster to itself, a menace to us.
Mexicans have robbed and killed each
other. They have devastated lands which
ought to be productive. They have kept
their country in a msdievalism Of rapine
and destruction offensive to every in
stinct of orderly people.
They have insulted the United States
at every opportunity. They have ravag-
ed American territory. They have killed
American citizens in American homes,
American soldiers in American camps.
They have resisted the half hearted and
ineffectively conducted military expedi-
tons which have been sent to correct
their ideas and their habits.
They have been lawless and contemp-
tuous. For while they had respect for
the suddenly developed military strength
OF the United States or seemed to have.
We impress them easily with ideas of our
incompetence, with difficulty with ideas
OF our national solvency.
The United States is not respected in
Mexico because it does not make itself
respected. Its warnings are not needed
because Mexlcans believe they are futile.
Aside from the fact that our southern
border is exposed to outrageous attacks
which no seii respecting nation would
tolerate from another, Mexico is one of
the dangerous complications in American
international relations.
Imagine Great Britain tolerating with
out effective action, raids even into
Egypt or India. Imagine France without
action submitting to Arab raids even up,
on its North African territory. Imagine
any great nation tolerating, without eff
fective reprisals, incursions upon its ter
ritory resulting in the murder of its citi-
zenS. S,aa - - rs~1t->tfsn
Stable, competent government do not
permit such things. This is one aspect
of our dealings with Mexico. The other as
pectis even more serious, humiliating as
the first one is. Mexico deals with for
eign nations whose care for the lives and
property of their citizens is scrupulous.
Mexico has not only American proper
ty but it has British and French property
For long time the threats of the Next
can government against oil properties OPP
Grated in Mexico by foreign capital have
been disturbing. There were signs of
German influence in the attitude of the
Mexican government against the oil pro-
auction needed for naval purposes for
our own allies.
The threat has grown in significance,
although the war is ended. The new con-
stitution of Mexico contains a confisca-
ton clause which would take the proper
ties away from their owners. The for
eign nations whose capital is involved
will not tolerate this. The United States
will protect them or they will protect
themselves.
The British and French do not submit
to such invasions of their rights The
capital which went into Mexico for the
development of oil fields was essential to
their development. The Mexicans would
have had nothing if this capital had not
been furnished. 1t entered Mexico upon
terms which the Mexicans stipulated. The
only development Mexico had it has OBJ
tanned by such means.
The one promise of Mexican regenera-
ton is offered by the use Of capital furn-
ished by Americans and Europeans. A
lawlessness which attempts confiscation
viii not be tolerated. We may rest as
sured of that. The United States which
is maintaining an outpost in the frozen