Evening star., 1924-03-16
CHAPTER XXI,
Why Carranxa Was Finally RecoE-
nixcd-The German Factor In the
Mexican Problem.

Why Carranxn Was Finally Recok.
nixed-The German Factor In TIA
Mexican Problem.
The Mexican question wa1 .nci-
dental to larger phases OF world
diplomacy. and circumstance beyond
the control of the Washington gov
ernment often dictated a course of
action distasteful to Woodrow Wilson
himself.
For instance, when a boatload of
American sailors were arrested on the
streets in Tampico and Rear Admiral
Mayo demanded salute-as well as
an apology. Mr.. Wilson would have
preferred to ignore the affair and ac-
cept the written apology which was
extended by the local Mexican COM
mander at Tampico. When the news
became public, however. that a de-
mand for a salute had been made the
President could not turn back. Much
against his will, he supported the
action of Mayo. I remember how
irritated he was when he received
the news of the Tampico incident
We were at White Sulphur Springs,
taken Mrs. Wilson in the hope that
her health would improve He re-
turned to Washington at once, and
In the next few days a crisis in Mex
lean relations developed, the climax
coming in the sudden seizure of Vera
Cruz as a reprisal for the insult to
American bluejackets
Did Not Expect BIoodshed.
Mr.. Wilson did not issue the order
for the seizure of Vera Cruz with the
idea that bloodshed would follow. He
had been given the idea in the re-
ports from John Lind, his envoy, that
the customshouse at Vera Cruz coulu
be seized without the loss OF a
life. Resistance from the Mexicans
was not expected. but the whole
maneuver, with it's consequent loss
of Mexican and American lives, made
upon Mr.. Wilson's mind a profound
impression of tragedy. He could not
rid himself of the thought that Mex
leo was a weak country and that the
United States might have found some
other way of satisfying pride. AL
though there were interests desirous
of Intervention and Mr.. Wilson was
criticized for not ordering the Ameri-
san expeditionary force to proceed to
Mexico City, no such plan ever re-
ceived his sanction. He believed
there was such a thing as a nation
too proud to fight neighbor as weak
and helpless as Mexico, however irri-
tat1ng the cause. Woodrow Wilson's
forbearance with respect to Mexico
in latter days was to no small extent
prompted by his regret over the Vera
Cruz tragedy.
The author ATTENDED the conference
at Niagara Falls in the early part
or 1914, in which the diplomatic
representatives of Argentine, Brazil
and Chile endeavored to mediate as
between the Huerta administration
and the United States government.
The elimination of Huerta was a
foregone conclusion. Mr. Wilson did
contribute toward that end, and to
Carranza faction in achieving mill
tary supremacy when the Huerta
regime came to an end.
Influenced by European War.
What might have happened il the
European war had not broken out
in July, 1914, cannot be conjectured,
because the entire policy of the
United States toward Mexico from
that time forward was Influenced
again by the relation of the Mexi-
can problem to world events. 1t is
true that pressure from the Euro
pean powers for settlement of pend
ing problems with Mexico eased up
considerably with their minds con-
centrated on the large developments
of world war. Hardly had carranza,
with his lieutenant, Gen. Obregon,
reached Mexico City and begun to
establish government, when the
disaffection of Pancho Villa in the
north frustrated hopes of internal
peace below the Rio Grande. 1t was
not until the summer of 1915 that
the Carranza faction was able to
achieve dominance and mastery from
a military viewpoint.
Hoping again to enlist the CO.
operation of the Latin American gov
ernments, Mr.. Wilson. through Sec
retary Lansing, laid before the diplo-
matte representatives of the Pan
American countries a proposal where
by elections might be held in Mexico
and a compromise effected between
the Carranza and Villa forces. It
was at this point that the author,
by reason of his close friendship
with some members Of the diplomatic
corps and his familiarity with the
Mexican viewpoint, was in a posi-
tion to bring together one of the
Carranza ENJOYS and some Of the
Latin American diplomats, most of
whom took the stand that until all
factions in Mexico invited outside
mediation it would be futile to. at
tempt to supervise an election or
negotiate settlement. Finally the
author was assigned by the Associ-
ated Press to visit Vera Cruz and
discuss with Gen. Carranza the pro-
posal that had been made by the
United States government for a peace
conference in which all the chief
tains in Mexico would participate.
Both President Wilson and Secretary
Lansing were apprised OF the, au-
thor's mission; in fact, they were
instrumental in having the journey
brought about, their idea being that
one who had the confidence Of the
Mexican authorities and who was in
no way connected with the United
States government might be able to
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