Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1924-02-03
WILSON influence STRONG
NCENERAL WORLDAFFAIRS

tinued. Wilson finally was nominate
ed. and the following November was
elected. The country had a democrat
for President for the first time in
sixteen years. the first time since
Grover Cleveland.
Mexican Situation Arose.
Domestic concerns of the country
during Mr. Wilson's first year were
serene enough: foreign affairs were
not SO tranquil. The Mexican situa-
ton and the aEti-alien law discussion
! In California. n subject offensive to
the Japanese. confronted Mr. Wilson
almost at the outset OF his adminfs-
tration.
A revolutionary coup d'atat in Mex.
| Eco had overthrown President Madero
, and placed in Dictatorship Gen. Vic
toriano Hu"rta. Within a few days
President Madero and Vice President
Suarez were assassina.ed In Mexico
City. President Taft had deferred
recognizing the Huarta government
and left the Incoming President free
to make his own decision. Mr.. VIII.
! son refused to recognize Huerta ane
| for months thereafter followed a pol.
| icy of what ne called "w8tchful walt.
! ing" He isolated Huerta's govern.
rent by placing an embargo upon the
shipment OF arms and ammunition.
Meanwhile he permitted troops OF
Venustiano Carranza, calling them
selves the constitutionalist forces, to
! import war supplies from the United
! States.
! Two results OF The enbroglio were
! the occupation OF Vera Cruz by Amer
| lean forces I'm April. 1914. and the
4, military expedition for the capture or
| killing of the Mexican bandit. Fran
cisco villa, led by Gen. Pershing in
March, 1915, following a raid and
, lumbus. " NJ. Finally Carranza's
! government triumphed and was rec
ognized
Urged People to Re Neutral.
! When the European conflict burst
! upon the world in all its fury. Mr..
Wilson. in an address to his fell
| low-countrymen. counseled them to
be strictly neutral. Exerting every
effort to avert the drawing of the
| United states into the maelstrom. for
nearly three years he drew upon him.
self the bitterest criticism of some of
his stanchest friends. About this
time. speaking Of the example Of
| America in regard TO peace. he said:
Denth OF Mrs. Wilson.
! A tragic moment IN the Presidents
| life came, when. sitting at the bed
side of his dying wife. he penned a
message to the European powers sug-
costing peaceful settlement. Mrs.
I the President took her body to her
girlhood home in Rome, Ca, for
burial. The family circle had been
broken only short time previously
, by the marriage OF two OF the Presi-
dents daughters, Jessie and Eleanor,
one to Francis Bowes sayre and the
other to William G. McAdoo. then
! Secretary Of the Treasury. Mrs. Will
sons death left the President alone
except for his eldest daughter, Mar
, garet. who was absent much or the
time in welfare work.
; Lusitania TOrpedOed.
| On May Z, 1915. the great steamship
| Lusitania was torpedoed and sunk or
| the coast of ireland with the loss of
! fifteen hundred lives, more than 10
OF them American. and many women
and children. Great Britain, in her
blockade. had been accused OF violat-
ing international law. but her acts
! involved only losses Of property and
! damages which could be assessed in
money. This situation. however.
served to affect large element Of
Americans and worked 70 the advan-
taRe Of the central powers. With the
sinking Of the Lusitania, however.
sentiment changed. The fact that
Germany was taking her toll in hu-
man lives OF neutrals was emphasized.
There was a widespread clamor In tho
United States for war:
still Mr.. Wilson hesitated. For
NAL diplomatic protests-note writ
ing, his critics called ii - contin-
ued. Meantime German spies and
propagandists were active. Munition
plants, ships and wharves were be-
ing burned or dynamited to hinder
the shipment Of supplies to the allies.
The President was slowly reaching
the conclusion that the United States
was being forced into the war and
that 1t must soon determine to de-
fsnd Its rights against such aggres-
sions on land and sea
The first Lusitania note to Germany
solemnly warned the German emperor
AGAINST the wantnn murder nf A~A~-
leans ION peaceful enjoyment of their
government replied with blast or
irrelevancies. 1t adroitly tried to use
the United States as club to force
England to lit the blockade. In the
one Of the foremost advocates OF
! world peace and Secretary Of State,
resigned because he disagreed. 1t was
said. with the Presidents course in
his negotiations with Germany. They
parted friends. however. and Mr..
Bryan supported his former chief for
the denomination in 1916.
The net result Of the diplomatic
correspondence with Berlin was that
Germany, one year after the loss of
spect the rules OF civilized warfare
on the sea.
Served Notice ON Germany.
Ship after ship had been sent to
the bottom without warning and this
climax came with the sinking on
March -. 1916. Of the English chan
mel steamer Sussex. Mr. Wilson, in
q final note. served notice on the
German emperor that he might ex.
pect war with the United States II
the "inhuman and illegal practices
continued. His warning to Germany
that she would be held to "a strict
Accountability" and his later declara-
ton that America would use force
without limit stirred responsive
chords In the hearts of most Ameri-
cans.
| kept her promise. Mr. wilson. du-
bious that her compar atively good be-
havior would continue. addressed
urged the nations at war to attempt
settlement. 1t was the celebrated
peace without victory" speech and 1t
aroused tho vehement democratic and
republican partisans. Within a few
nounced her intention of resuming
unrestricted U-boat warfare ana
sinking neutral and belligsrent
merchantmen and passenger ships
without search and regardless of the
safety Of passengers or crews.
Mr.. Wilson accordingly broke on
diplomatic relations with the Ber-
lin government and gave Count
Won Bernstorff, the German ambassa-
dor. his passports. Everybody knew
IL mt haA he nnAlnf NJ