The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-05-29
0BREG0N PLEADS
 FOR JUSTICE AT
 HANDS OF AMERICA
(Continued from Page one.)

the necessities or the aspirations of people. Naturally, during the last in-
 ternal war. as happens In all civil and | international wars, there were not ap- piled In Mexico the moral and legal precepts corresponding to peaceful times, and in this regard, the episodes
 of the latter could not have been better
 or worse than those of the Europeu war.
 The Mexican revolution gave riss
 therefore, to incidents which deplor-
 ably affected the relations between the two countries, and of such not only l the United States can complain, but also the republic of Mexico. It is true, in fact. it could not be otherwise, that several American citizens have diea and many have suffered damages in their properties as a logical conse- qfluence of the state of war, and of in- evitable or arbitrary acts of the revo- lutionary government, such as the att tachment of the railroads and other private property. the temporary dis-
 continuance of payments of interest
 on the public external debt, etc. Claims InJustce Done It Is, nevertheless, also true that in
 the United States the interests injured by the Mexican revolution, or those fearful of it. carried out an intense
 campaign against it, and, therefore. against the Mexican people. grossly exaggeratlng it's methods and Its acts,
 and unjustly picturing Mexico, not as
 8 country which struggles, to the point of sacrifice. In order to win It's liber-
 ties and place of honor in the civil ized world, but as a band of outlaws incapable of regeneration.
 It is also true that the Mexican people, mindful as 1t is of It's sover- ignity suffered a violation of soverie- gnty in the occupation by American forces of the Port of Vera Cruz ana the punitive expedition which reached
 the heart of Chihuahua. As regards
 the second point, notwithstanding the pro -allied sentiments of the thinking classes of Mexico, the country had to remain neutral during the great war because it was deeply engaged in It's internal problems and also because in no case could 1t have taken part Tn
 sufficiently decorous manner. Tne direct motives calling it to war were
 not sufficiently important nor was It's contingent of forces so large as to in- fluence even in an appreciable manner. the course of the war.
 Source of Friction
 From the time of the declaration or war on Germany by the United states the neutrality of Mexico constituted an- other source of friction between the two countries, besides the fact that | taking advantage of these propitious | conditions foreign interests were able to intensity to the maximum pos | sible degree their hostile campaign 1 against Mexico.
 Fortunately the Mexican revolution and the European war are things Of the past Both the Mexican and Ameri- can peoples daily manifest-in various | forms--their intentions to develop closer relations and friendly co-opera-
 ton to which they are morally bound by their geographic propinquity. | This would be tn the ""vantage OF their respective countries, the Amert- can continent and humanity at large. The present government of Mexico, which is the outcome of this express sion of the free will of its people, endeavors to carry out it's high pur- poses.
 What is lacking, then. for the fui- fillment of that beneficial and friend ly corporation between the govern-
 ments of Mexico and the United States. so much desired by the inhabitants or both countries? That the American government, placing itself above the unwholesome tendencies, transitory characteristics and absurd impatience of a few material interests, do jus l tice to the people and governments | of Mexico, by applying the tradi- tional policy initiated by Jefferson, Tn these memorable words: According to our principles, we must recognize as | legal any government constituted Tn conformity with the will of a nation substantially stated"