The Washington times., 1921-08-10

Il Z
throw of Madero, represented no APP
preciable part of the Mexican people,
but only a handful Of men with for
eign backing.
Therefore he refused recognition
and nursed along tha various insur-
gent elements until. the Carranza re-
gime finally developed. During this
part of Mr.. Wilson's first term i
asked him IL his various problems
worried him.
"None except Mexico" he said.
THAT worries me because / do not
understand it."
i understand he referred not to
principles or psychology. but to facts.
He meant that he had not been able
to get hold OF enough facts.
Later on took to the White House
a man who was interested in Mexico.
IAN sorts of people come TO tell
me things about Mexico" said the
President Zone is interested in
one aspect, one in another. The
only thing In which none of them
seem interested is the ordinary Mexi-
cans welfare.
As an enthusiastic hacker OF Mr..
Wilson's policy. ] explained II once
to Lord Bryce.
That In all very WELL" said he,
"but do not forget that at a GER
tain stage Of development the ordi-
nary inhabitant of a country gains
more progress and welfare from
one railroad of mine than from any
amount of political machinery"
Attempts at political consistency
often lead to confusion.
Affected Russian Policy.
have always felt that the too
moral grounds on. which was based
the refusal to recognize Huerta were
used TO influence by analogy our
Russian policy, with disastrous re-
suits. ~
A distinction between Lenln and
Huerta on de facto grounds was per-
fectly possible. but when we relied
too strongly on moral objections TO
a forcihle coup we were in trouble
with our analogies.
When the Republicans came In II
looked as IL they would seek every
pretext for Intervention. The plat
form, Senator Lodges Chicago
speech and the Fall report were out
standing expressions of what looked
like a prevailing party spirit.
|
time that interviewed between election
and taking office, made It clea- in
conversation that while Senator Fall
was a great friend of his, their ideas
on Mexico were not alike.
Huhes' Own Ideas.
The Senator wanted to be Secre-
/ tary OF State. When Mr.. Hughes
was chosen II was believed by many
| that nevertheless the Mexican policy
would be the policy of Mr.. Fall.
The point OF view OF the officials
! in the State Department, from Mr..
Lansing down. had been persistently
against Mr.. Wilson. and he had %
watch them constantly to prevent
their seeking occasions of trouble.
Indeed. when Mr.. Wilson chose so
irrational a pretext as Cabinet meet
ings for letting Mr.. Lansing go, one
of the two actual reasons was the
Secretary's failure to uphold the
Presidents Mexican policy.
| In all these complications Mr..
Hughes worked out and insisted upon
policy. He took the position that
our Government would not recognize
a Mexican government that retro
actively took away private property.
At the same time he made 1t clear
that IL the retroactive clause was
changed or efficiently interpreted so
ns not to be retroactive our Admin
istration would recognize the Obregon
regime and not interfere with any
measures. no matter how socialistic,
that looked only to the future.
| As he intended to oppose the Lenin
regime in Russia on property grounds
this left him at least consistent
Whether It left him profoundly right
| or not is another matter, but there is
a fair chance of success.
We are cleared of any suspicion, In
fair minds. Of seeking subterfuges for
| interference, and It's left mp to Obre-
gon to bring about simple and easily
understood compromise.
The trouble il that Obregon does
/ not believe in the good faith and
| friendliness Of the Harding Admins
tration. In that he is wrong Al
long as Mr.. Hughes is Secretary OF
State there will be 20 cheating.
Il GIoN., Mslla%x - TaoAk