The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1926-11-24

years ago, by letting his friends
respective policies of the two coun-
tries clash at every turn, and one
or the other must, in the end, give
way.
Mexico fears the United States and
suspects its motives. She has
watched the United States reach out
and acquire the Panama Canal Zone
plus a protectorate over the West
Indies, the Caribbean Sea and naval
base sites on the Central American
west coast. She believes she is
threatened from the north across
the Rio Grande; from the south up
ward through Central America, and
from the east and west by a power
full navy. Her turn has now come,
she fears, unless she can block the
closing-in process by deftly placing
a monkey wrench in the right place.
Don't make the mistake Of think
ing Mexico has embarked on pol
icy Of Latin-American unity against
Washington just to be nasty. Her
motive lies far deeper than that. She
is convinced she is acting in self
defense.
1--WE are fighting with our back to
the WALL Senior Quintanilla of the
Mexican embassy in Guatemala told
an American interviewer. And we
are only too ready to snatch at any
outside aid, however insignificant, to
protect us from the United States"
Incidentally, Mexico has raised her
legation in Guatemala to an en-
bassy, so that. her diplomatic repre-
sentative to that country will out
rank American and other ministers.
This is typical Of the method which
Mexico is employing to gain the good
will of her neighbors. Compliments
versus buster. Almost simultan-
oously with the big demonstration
over the new Mexican embassy, our
warships appeared in Guatemalan
waters, apparently as q reminder
hat, after all, we are the people
with the punch.
Bouquets VS.. Might
Where we appear with a show Of
might, Mexico comes along with a
bouquet. And, far from sending I'M
couth diplomats of Bolshevist per-
suasion to Central America, she is
picking the flower of her diplomatic
service for these posts with instruc-
tons to cultivate a spirit Of Latin
American solidarity.
Meanwhile Washington is playing
into their hands. At best, ours
would be a difficult job looking after
our many legitimate interests in Cen
trail America, but by constantly blus-
tering and threatening over the is
sues as they arise we add fuel to the
fire Of suspicion now making things
uncomfortable for Us all the way
from Texas to Terra Del Fuego.
The Panama Canal is a necessary
link in our chain Of national de-
Tense. At any time this may have
to be reinforced by a second canal
across Nicaragua, the right to which
we hold. Also, we may have to
make use of naval base concessions
acquired by us in the Goulf Of Fon-
SEGA; and so on.
But against these vital interests
Of ours a new menace is arising for
which Mexico cannot be held en-
tirely to blame. Every year Wash
ington has frightened up on its in
depreciation of the Monroe Doctrine
until now it assumes a guardianship
over all the Americas, an exclusive
control which Latin-Americans are
coming more and more to resent be
cause they suspect-and not always
without reason-that it may be for
purposes of exploitation
1t is easy to laugh at the menace
today. The powerful Uncle Sam can
use force and take what he wants
But, ultimately, If washington sows
the seed for it, a Latin-American
concert might prove very serious
matter, especially If encouraged by
unfriendly powers.