Weekly journal-miner., 1922-07-05
SELF-HELP FOR MEXICO

ID RUTAL wrongdOng, or impotence which ID results in the general loosening of the ties of civilized society may finally require inter vention by some civilized nation, and in the west ern hemisphere the United States cannot ignore its dutv" said Theodore Roosevelt in 1904.
 The repeated offenses against American na- tiona1s which have. been recorded in the past few years. and which are recalled by the recent kid mapping of Belaski and 40 others, furnishes cvi- dence enough of the impotence of previous MeNi- can governments If the Obregon government cal. meet the situation raised by this most recent affront to American sovereignty it will do much to rebut the testimony to its impotence Ii it can not, or refuses to attempt to do so, the American government will be justified in resort ing to drastic action to the end that the policy of cheeI-turning which characterized the Wilson administration may be ended at once and for all That the "watchful waiting policy has about reached the end of its tether is indicated by the prompt action of the state department in communicating with Obregon.
 Tn accordance with the principles of inter national law says Dr. EIery C. Stowell, in his admirable volume recently published, entitled "Intervention in International Law Every state is required to police its own territory in such a manner as to secure for all its inhabitants. nationals as well as aliens, reasonable protec- ton and the enjoyment of a minimum of rights, recognized by that law as absolutely indispensa- be for all civilized human beings. The failure to meet this obligation is a delinquency which iustifies interpretation of the aliens government to secure redress And under the sub-head of Self Help" the author says: It sometimes hap-I pens that a weak or harassed government isl unable or unwilling to compel its nationals to observe international law. In such a situation, the state whose nationals whose interests are endangered may act directly to compel the ob- 1 servance of international law Action SO taken is called self help, and is remedy which sup plements interpostion.'
 The annals of international relations are re- plete with instances of self help. When the gov ernment of Argentina failed to impose upon the inhabitants of the Falkland Islands proper respect for the rights of American whalers repair ing thither the government of the United States had recourse to self help and administered di rectlv wel-merited punishment. The right of the government to intervene for the protection of its citizens in foreign lands and on the high seas never was doubted was such action withheld in proper cases says John Bassett Moore one of the foremost American authorities on international law. And EIhu Root, speaking of that general standard which forms part of the international law of the world said: If any countrys system of law and administration does not conform to that standard, although the people of the country may be content or com pelled to live under it. no other country may be compelled to accept it as furnishing a satisfactory measure of treatment to its citizens.
 The capture and holding for ransom of Bic lasl within o miles Of the Mexican capital is indicative of the impotence of the Obregon gov ernment Will that government disprove the evidence: If it does not, the state department may be depended upon 10 meet the situation in a manner coniormable with the dignity of this nation.