The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-08-10
MERELY GATHERING THE pLuMs

No more misleading public document has appeared in some time than the statement accompanying the resignation of Charles B. Warren as ambassador to Mexico In this statement MT. Warren falsely ascribes to the Wilson policy to- wards Mexico the troublesome diplomatic relationship that has persisted until re- gently, thus giving the impression that the Republican delay in coming to an agreement with Mexico was due to that policy. MT. Warren's own statement is inconsistent, for he later takes much credit to himself and the Republican party for the composition of the difficult ties arising out of the Mexican constitu- tion of 1917. Thus he contradicts him. self by showing that it was in reality the objectionable features of that constitu- ton and not the Wilson policy which stood between the two nations for so long. And these difficulties must have been very real and very great, or else MT. Warren could not possibly claim so much credit for their settlement.
 It is also alleged that the situation was greatly aggravated by the Vera Cruz demonstration and the Pershing expedi- ton into Mexico after Villa. Buta care full review of the history of our relation ship shows very clearly that neither of these factors was of moment in keeping the two countries so long automatically divorced, On the contrary, it was Ob- regon's own reluctance and hesitation in giving us reliable guaranties as to the protection of foreign lives and foreign concessions and property rights in Mex ico which delayed recognition of his gov ernment. In demanding such guaranties, the Wilson administration was establish ing no precedent and departing from no principle of international relations. The policy of "watchful waiting" was dis appointing to many who believed that American deaths in Mexico should be avenged with greater promptitude and sternness. But that attitude in no way interfered with or delayed the funda- mental developments in accordance with which alone our recognition could be ex- tended. So satisfactory was the Wilson Mexican policy that Great Britain, whose interests were also heavily involved by the confiscatory nature of Section 27 of the constitution, was content to follow our lead in every particular
 As a further tribute to the soundness of the Mexican policy under MT. Wilson, one of the first acts of Secretary Hughes was to reaffirm the Wilsonian position in language equally as firm, vigorous and apparently as spontaneous as marked the diplomatic passages of Secretaries Lansing and Colby. For more than two years the Republican administration res- olutely adhered to it's "inherited" policy, and demanded of Obregon' in repeated communications reliable assurance that the constitutional provision referred to would not be interpreted and applied retroactively. It was not until finally the Obregon government acceded to this and the Mexican supreme court gave formal opinion that the section was not to be applied retroactively that the United States finally extended the GOV eted recognition to the Obregon admin istration.
 Far from counteracting any injury al- legged against Wilson's Mexican policy, the Republican administration merely com pleted what the Wilson administration had begun, and followed unswervingly the Wilson stipulations until our de- mands were finally complied with. There is no desire in all this to reflect upon the able services of MT. Warren, whose pres ence at Mexico City has been very help full to the betterment of our mutual re- lationship. But MT. Warren departs far from his province and from the facts when he seeks to cast blame upon the Wilson administration and to claim all the credit for the Republican administra- tion. In the case of Mexican recognition as in the case of so many other events of the Republican regime, the Repub- licans have merely gathered up the plums where the Democrats had pre- viously very vigorously shaken the tree.