The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-06
PRESS ON ARMS TO MEXICO

PRESS ON ARMS TO MEXICO
 Why there should be any contro- versy over such routine matter as the sale of munitions to friendly nation for the purpose of defending itself against internal disorder lis hard to understand. Of course, the insurgent politician needs slight excuse for an attack upon his real or fancied ene- mics; but the sober rank and file, even of those in public life, should perceive the ludicrous nature of inflating an episode until it becomes of sufficient outward dimensions to attract atten- ton. It seems that the Mexican epi- sode. small in itself, has been thus inflated. The insurgents are apt to win for themselves the reputation of always blowing bubbles. No matter how many of these bubbles burst, and sooner or later all do, there is always plenty of political studs left for more.
 Besides the political hucksters, the Chattanooga Times conceives of sec ond group who may be similarly aroused to protest the sale: Peace advocates of certain type will be mortified at the decision of the na- 6onal administration to sell surplus war material to Mexico. But the pacificists and other critics of the governments decision should remem- Der that real peace may often be best promoted by the arming of neighbor in just cause. Mexico's salvation lies in the establishment of a stable, fair-dealing government, one which will be able to maintain itself against designing politicians and soldiers of fortune, against men who seek power by exploiting the prejudice and igno- rance of an illiterate people. The United States government is not in the war munitions business, but it will do Mexico and the cause of world peace service by aiding directly or indirect ly in the maintenance of order in a sister republic" In which it is per- ceived that the Times is willing to go even further than the government con- templates going in this direction.
 While believing that "it is a sound general policy to try to stabilize ad- to the south of us and to regularize the transmission of title from one president to another," yet the New York Herald thinks that ''the public here would be more enthusias- tic about MT. Hughes' latest applica- ton of the stabilization principle south of the Rio Grande if it had a robuster confidence in the intentions of Presi- dent Obregon." However, our confi- dence in the intentions of President Obregon should be fully as robust as in tho intentions of Senor De la Huerta, who is seeking to undermine the authority with which Obregon is legally and constitutionally invested. The Louisville Courier-Journal brands De la Huerta's note of protest to MT. Hughes against the sale as "gratui- tous impertinence," because of the Mexican's lack of any diplomatic standing and his position az a rebel against his country's laws.
 Perhaps no more judicious and fair statement of the case is found any where than that of the St. Louis Globe Democrat, "Who is president of Mex ico is not very important to us. But it is of great importance to us that Mexico shall have a settled status, that the succession in it's executive office shall be determined by orderly and not disorderly methods, and that deterrent penalties shall be inflicted on pernicious leaders who stir up trouble. Peace in Mexico is of vastly greater consequence than either Obre- gon or De la Huerta to all the rest of the continent. To the policemen of that country engaged in putting down riot, we might sell clubs in good conscience. The present troubles hav- ing passed beyond the scope of the police, we sell some rather efficient implements to it's army engaged in a police duty" It might be said that if Obregon were engaged in trying to prevent an orderly election called ac- cording to law, the situation would then be of an entirely different as- pect.
 An equally fundamental conception of the situation is set forth by the Houston Chronicle: "There can be no neutrality toward revolution. We cannot argue that we are taking sides against De la Huerta when we sell arms to Obregon. Obregon represents recognized government. De la Huerta does not. De la Huerta is leading\a revolt. He has no standing among nations, except as nations may be willing to bet on a change of the Mexican government by violence. Obregon, whatever his policies may be, is president of Mexico, and repre- sents the constituted authority of Mexico. By no stretch of the imagi- nation can he be reduced to equal terms with leader who deliberately IL