Evening star., 1927-05-08
COOLIDGE PLEASED
AT PEACE PROSPECT
Nicaraguan and Mexican
Situations Are Now Con-
Sidered Cleared Up.

President Coolidge feels that he has
cleared up the Nicaraguan and Mexican
situations, at least for the present.
The announcement that his persona
representative, Henry l.. Stomson
former Secretary Of War, had
achieved a truce in Nicaraguc- comes
only short time after President
Gales of Mexico announced that the
speech of President Coolidge in New
York was satisfactory.
These two problems have been a
thorn in the administrations side and
have given the critics more to talk
about than anything else during the
past few months. They probably will
not cease their comment, however, for
the peace in Nicaragua was attained
by means of a very explicit converse
tion on the part of Mr.. StimSon to the
Eicaraguan Liberals as to the futllity
of further opposition to the policies
Of the United States Government.
The sum and substance of American
policy is that continued guerrilla war
fare would settle nothing and that
even If the Liberals won, they would
not win recognition until they had
held an election and done the very
things which Mr.. Stimson now out
lines shall be done in 1928.
Wilson Policy Followed.
In this connection the peace terms
revealed by Mr.. Stimson are with one
or two exceptions almost identical
with the peace terms laid down by
President wilson to Huerta and later
to Carranza and Villa. as well as to
the factions in Haiti and Santo
Domingo The United States then in
sisted on fair elections before reco2nl-
ton could be granted and in the cases
of Haiti and Santo Domingo American
Marines actually supervised the cleo
lions. In this respect, however, Presl-
dent Coolidge has the support OF
Senator Borah, chairman or the
Senate foreign relations committee,
and his most constant critic on
Mexican and Nicaraguan AFFAIRS. MI
'Borah said in a public statement that
the United States should not only
supervise an election in Nicaragua.
hut should keep Marines there during
,he election. This will be done. In
fact the only difference between what
Mr.. Borah advocated and what Mr..
Stimson is doing is that President
Diaz Of Nicaragua stays in power
until the next election is held. rms.
however, is during the early part OF
1928 and it is felt by the administra.
ton that the tranquility which VIII
ensue as a result of the truce will be
a better preparation for the elections
than a prolongation of the revolution.
Era of Intrigue.
As for Mexico. the assurances OF
the Mexican Ambassador that there
will be no confiscation means a truce.
too. for the Mexican courts are eX-
ri
the American oil companies as to the
retroactive character of the petroleum
law enacted under the much debated
article 81 of the Mexican constitution.
The administration troubles may
not be over, for the participation of
the Liberals in the DiaZ cabinet may
mean an era of intrigue in the future
as it has with coalition cabinets In
the past in Central America. There
may also be difficulties over the spread
of revolutionary activity in Mexico.
But for the time being, the Coolidge
administration has a breathing spell
and it is no secret that the admins
fration hopes the truce in Mexico and
Nicaragua will last far beyond the
American elections of 1928. Indeed,
q new President is to be elected the
same year in Mexico. as well as in
Nicaragua and the United States in
the same few months. Mr.. Obregon,
who is slated to succeed President
Gales, is favorable to the American
interpretation of the oil laws. If
Nicaragua can gree on man able
to keep peace, the American Govern
ment hopes it's troubles in all Central
America will be thereafter diminished
and the futility of revolution fully
demonstrated.
Copyright 1927