The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-01
PRECEDENT |s SET BY SALE OF ARMS
New Policy Of Protecting Small American Govern
 mentS Seen
By RAYMOND CHAPTER

tLeAse0 wire to The AEc-Herald)
 WASHINGTON, Dec. 3l.-In decid- ing to furnish arms and ammunition to help the Obregon government against the de la Huerta revolution ists. the United States is embarkink upon a new policy toward the weak CT governments on the western hem isphere.
 By this act, the Coolidge admins tration has set a precedent which may easily be invoked in the future whenever any of the American po- tege governments is in danger of succumbing to revolutionary attacks.
 As revolutions often serve as sub- stitutes for elections in central American countries. this policy may have future consequences not con- tempiated by the present action. The state department explains its granting of arms to Obrgon on tho ground that the United States cannot turn a cold shoulder on friendly neighbor- Ing government whose stability is in danger. This opens the way for any central American government, men, aced by revolution, to mako the same request of the United States which Obregon made. and by the same to- ken, this government will find it diff ficult to refuse the sort of aid which has just been rendered to Mexico. U. g. Appears Committed.
 Thus the policy just announced appears at first glance, to commit the United States to maintaining, by force of arms, the stability of exist ing governments on the western hemisphere against forciRle internal established. the way Is open for al- most any amount of supervision and internal interference in the affairs of Latin America countries. -
 Already many members of the House and Senate, foreseeing Such future complications, are severely resentative Fairchild of New York intends to offer g resolution forbid ding the sale of arms to foreign gov ernments.
 Representative Nelson of Wiscon- sin denounced the affair as dollar diplomacy" and other comments were in the same vein. Disapproval extends even into the cabinet. where Secretary of War Weeks is hostile to the idea. However the policy has been accepted by Coolidge and the cabinet and there is nothing for Weeks to do but to comply and make the sales of surplus supplies when financial arrangements satisfactory to the treasury department are con- cluded. Guarding List Carefully.
 As the list of supplies desired by Obregon is regarded as a military se- cret of the Mexican government, the United States is guarding it care fully. It is probable that the hill will run up to nearly $1,o00,00O, and will include guns. ammunition rifles and probably some aircraft. No naval vessels can be allotted becalse of restrictions of the five-power na. val treaty signed at the Washington arms conference.
 As to the effect of the move upon the situation in Mexico, there is con- siderable difference of opinion. The de la Huerta agent here has pro- tested to the state department, put at the same time, he insists that the action will not hurt the revolution ists.
 They will accuse Obregon of being a tool of American interests, an old trick which has proven effective Tn arousing anti-American feeling in Mexico more than once. If Obreson wins out and carries the next presi- dential election some months hence, everything will be all right. If he fails and the de la Huerta faction comes into power, bitter resentment toward the United States Will un- doubtedly develop.