The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-01-17

THE following Is taken from an editorial i'm the
Independent, a national weekly, whose editor, Christian
"A. Herter, was secretary to Herbert Hoover until two
years ago.
There is something to hide. The whole affair is
full of shabby excuses and frowsy protestations. Until
the native apologists became vocal, we thought that
the landing Of marines was done to protect American
interests a police measure in an anarchic condition.
But listen to the gorgeous Diaz: Nicaragua does not
want to be a European colony, nor does 1t want to be
a satellite of Mexico. From the fate of Mexican domi-
nation 1t sees its only salvation in the protecting hand
of Its great North American brother" He adds: This
solicitation Of American intervention to protect Mica.
ragua from Mexican intervention has many laudable
presidents, and it is not unworthy Of any small SOW
ereign state to seek the aid of a strong nation to pro-
tect its sovereignty and territory against the armed
aggression OF a stronger power, witness Belgium"
OF course the case of Belgium was so totally differ
ent as to have no relevance at all in the specious plea
OF this not altogether disinterested patriot. But the
interesting thing in his ingenious statement is the
word intervention" Apparently, our good hired men,
the marines, have not landed ito protect American
property" but to intervene" in a civil war between
two factions in q sovereign state.
Now, even If Mexico is sending illegal flibustering
expeditions to support the liberal movement, what call
or reason has the United States to send legal, official
American military units to support the conservative
forcesT None whatever, according to our simple, old
fashioned turn of mind. 1t is not our affair in any way
at all to interfere in the pepper pot of Nicaraguan
politics. Our Navy and marine corps do not exist to
make the world safe for Nicaraguan loans. Our State
Department has, or should have, longer thoughts and
wiser policies than the will to act as the collection
agent Tor American or European interests. The Mon.
roe Doctrine can not be stretched to counteract the
propaganda of another American republic in Latin
America.
The whole incident smells badly. The nervous
kellogg and his banking friends have ventured to
thrust a timid toe into a black. cold murky stream.
and suddenly, to their dismay, they find themselves
engulfed-way over their hip boots, arctics and con.
gress CATERS. They attempt by camouhage and cen.
sorship TO cover their dilemma, but the candid Diaz,
their partner in the adventure, speaks up from the
other bank loud and clear in open meeting. American
intervention, he says, is-for him and his friends
preferable to Mexican Intervention which helps his CD.
ponents. We have INTERVIEWED, it seems, in Central
America. We are deciding how our neighbor shall
rule his own household.
And then, to cap the climax, comes the President
VINO urges us to support with a united front the for.
eign policies of the State Department. Not for us,
until we know more about them! Not until we feel
that our crude dollar diplomacy is tempered by a
more abstract sense Of justice and fair play! The
elaborate explanations of the State and Navy Depart.
ments are not good enough. They fail to convince.
The United States has walked in where decent angels
fear to tread. The only gesture 1t can make and save
its selfrespect Is to walk out again, or to specify lust
what American property or American lives are in such
danger as to require that action which only the strong
can impose on the weak. Mr.. Coolidge's statement
that the marines are protecting our right to build the
proposed Nicaraguan canal and a naval base upon
Fonseca Bay does not provide the answer. Both of
these are paper rights involving no actual property
and by no stretch of imagination any American lives.
Some better excuse than this is needed.