Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1921-06-11
is AMERICA UNSELFTSH?

When President Harding, in delivering the
commencement address at the American University
in Washington on Wednesday. made the following
statement, he uttered a great and important
truth:
81 do not think l could let this occasion
pass without giving assent to many of the
appropriate and appealing things just uttered
by DIR. Rowell. l liked his expression that
American and Canadian ideals are in common,
and when he spoke about North American
contribution to civilization and to the world,
it occurred to that the example of two
great peoples living side by side in peace, in
confidence and in mutual understanding, is
about the finest contribution that two nations
could give to the world
But when he added the following statement we
fear he was less accurate in his statement:
II have said that if all the nations were
as honest and unselfish our republic, there
never would be another war"
President Harding doubtless did not smile to
himself when he made this statement but big
fnanciers of New York must have nudged each
other when they read 1t.
At the moment when the president made this
statement his cabinet under pressure from the
financial interests of the United States taking
a position with regard to Mexico which, apparently
lead nowhere except to war with that gov
eminent or to further revolutions and disorders
in that unhappy republic
If Obregon fails to meet the demands of
Without recognition it cannot finance itself for
promised relief in Mexico without the redemption
of it's promises to the people, it will fall If 1t
accedes to our demands that government will be
regarded disloyal to Mexico and will fall If it
stops the development work of American interests
who claim vested rights in Mexico, we will doubt
less intervene, Yet this work is in direct violation
of the Mexican constitution which Obregon has
no right to ignore.
Our government is not being asailed in any
way by Mexico. They ask only to be allowed to
handle their own internal affairs in their own
way We refuse to permit this to be done The
American people not demanding that we re-
fuse to give Mexico autonomy but the big financial
interests demanding it.. Yet the president
naively says that if other nations were "unsel-
fish as our republic there never would be another
war"
We are not attacking the republican party.
President Wilson had six months after Carranzas
death in which to recognize the regime in
Mexico and did not. He, too, bowed to the de-
mands of big finance.
We have no right to interfere in the internal
policy of Mexico unless she is menacing the safety
of institutions We may not like her laws but
If they do not discriminate against citizens
have right to complain.
Mexico has q constitutional provision which de-
prives certain wealthy Americans of so-called vest
ed rights Mexico claims constitutional title to-
minerals under the ground. Even if claim this
to be unfair, we ought not to complain, provided
the law applies to every alike.
Certain interests obtained sO-called titles from
fIy-by- night governments in Mexico. No prudent
business would have taken them But these
big gamblers bet their money that they could
force the American government to compel con-
firmation of their wobbIy titles. This confirmation
is the price of recognition. Yet we are "un-
selfish"
Unless Mexico yields the time will come when
boys will be dying in Mexico to aid these
gamblers in grabbing her natural resources. But
the gamblers do not care about the price They
like the Brtsher who said, I'VE will win if it
requires the last drop of French blood to do So"
Under the existing conditions it would he well
for us not to boast much of our unselfshness as
a preventive of wars.