Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-04-17

THURSDA1
Zimmerman note was intercepted
office to link Mexico with Japan
against the United States was eX
posed.
Returning to Washington in the
autumn of 1917 with full report of
MS investigation in Mexico the au-
thor recommended that the most eff
fectiVe way to cOunteraCt German
influence and prevent Mexico being
used as a base for hOstilities, especial
~ in the event the United States en-
tered the war, was to recognize the
Carranza administration and for
maize the relations between the
United States and Mexico, insisting
upon the proper assurance for the
protection of life and of property of
American citizens. These assurances
were given in writing and recOgni-
ton was extended by the United
States after consultation with the
diplomatic representatives. OF the
Latin American countries. The Unit
ed States hoped that the extension
of recognition would make Carranza
more friendly and would checkmate
German influence. Unfortunately the
bandit depredatiOns of Pancho Villa
in the north upset all plans and
with the outlaWed bandit actually
crossing the American boundary line
and raiding Columbus, New Mexico,
it seemed as if the prOVOcation for
war which the Germans had been
hoping would develop had come at
last. The United States during the
first two years of her neutrality had
become the arsenal for the allies,
supplying munitions and guns. The
German plan was, to divert the sup.
ply of war material from Europe to
an American army engaged in a war
below the Rio Grande. Mr.. Wilson s
decision to send d punitive expedi-
ton after Pancho Villa was criticized
in Mexico as hostile but public epin-
ion in the United States in 1916
would have countenanced no other
action, especially because Mr.. Will
son was already being accused of
Vacillation and weakness in his for
eign policy in dealing with Germany
as a consequence of the sinking Of
the Lusitania and other American
vessels by German subn arines.
Admired Fighters
Mr.. Wilson occasionally exhibited
a sardonic humor. He issued the
order to General Pershing to organ
ize an expedition and for several
days declined to interfere in the ac-
tual plans of the expedition, belieV-
ing that the men in the war depart
ment who had been ClamOrlng for
an opportunity to show their mettle
would now Rave plenty Of chance to
show what they could do in getting
an expedition under way in quick
time Mr. Wilson gave the war de
partment free hand and watched
with an amusement understandable
only by those who heard his com
ment from time to time the efforts
Of thousands Of American troops to
catch Il single bandit. Somewhere
in the Wilsonian makeup there was
q, streak of admiration for his OPP
ponents, and he could not help but
express himself once about the dar-
ing of Pancho Villa. Something of
the same humor in Mr.. Wilson came
out as he observed Huerta wrigsling
cleverly in his effort to outWit the
is. Mr.. Wilson liked the fighting
man.
AS things developed, it was for
tunate that the war department. was
given Il chance to better itself IT,
the Mexican expedition, tor there
were even greater demands NOT
many months later when the United
States finally entered the war. From
this time on, of course, the policy
Of the United States toward Mexico
was one of tolerance. Although the
neutrality of the Carranza govern
ment WAS often questioned by the
authorities in Washington and there
were rumOrs galore of wireless sta
tons in Mexico through which spies
were believed to be operating and
plans were being made to foment
trouble with the United States, there
is little likelihood that the Unlttd
States would have been diverted very
seriously from its huge task over
seas by anything that happened be
Low the Rio Grande.
I When the European war was over
1.-THE Mexican policy continued to be
one Of opportunism, while friction
between Washington and Mexico
City did not cease, the danger OF
hostilities between the two countries
suddenly began to disappear.
Whether the existence of Il large
American army ready for any emer-
gency made any change in the situa-
ton below the Rio Grande and de-
veloped more practical spirit or
whether public opinion in the Unit
ed States had had its fill of blood
shed or whether the returning
troops were Indifferent about fur
Their service, none of these views
can be deemed~'cOnclusiVe because
Of the overshadoWinS Importance OF
the European peace negotiations in
the mind of the American people
and in the attention of President
Wilson himself.
Saturdays chapter tells Of the
two shocks that almost unnerNed
Mr.. TNiIsOn-the outbreak of the
European war and the death of his
wife,