The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-11-16
Water Under the Bridge

The documents purporting to connect President
Gales of Mexico with the Nicaraguan revolution of
last year. reproduced in facsimile by the Hearst Press
are tremendously interesting.
Particularly is this true of the key piece which pur-
ports to be order signed by the Mexican president
for $4,000 for the ayowed purchase OF arms for the
liberal government of President Sacasa
OF course the authenticity of the documents thus
reproduced are open to question Indeed their gen.
uneness has already been categoricaly denied from
half dozen different Mexican sources at once. But
interesting they are, and whether real or whether
Mr.. Hearst has been imposed upon what difference
can they make III the present state of affairs between
the United States and Mexico?
The charge that Mexico had aided the Nicara-
guam liberals has been made before, and often Our
State Department never tired of saying as much
and more. President Coolidge himself dwelt upon
the matter at some length in message to Congress
almost year ago. Yet despite all this Dwight Nor
row. sneciay picked by the President for the job is
now in Mexico City making friends with President
Gales and his government with view to more
friendly relations between our countries.
If we accept the published documents at their face
value, they would merely indicate that President
Gales did help the Ncaraguan liberals despite his
having denied that he hsd-a form of prevarication
which from time immemoria has been the favorite
sport indoor and out, of officials In every capital of
every land under the sun, including our own.
But the Hearst papers, fixing motive for the deed,
claim 'the Calles-Sacasa consprators plotted :.
to overthrow the conservative Ncaraguan government
for the capital sin of friendship for the United
States. :"
1t is matter of history that en- July o 1925, the
date of Gales alleged $4,000 contribution there
no such thing as conservative government in Mica
ragua and with much friendship for the United
States. dictator was in power Gen. Enliliano Cha
moro, whom the United States had bluntly refused
to recognize and whose removal it was actually and
actively seeking to bring about Thus If President
Gales contributed $4,000 to help GUST Chamorro he
was promoting what at that precise moment the
American charge daffaires, Lawrence Dennis then in
Nicaragua was trying to do in another and less
pensiye way.
Again, however, 1t so happens that history clears
the point. On May 2, 1926 two full months before
the date of the alleged order from Gales for $500o0
a liberal revolutionary force attacked Chamorros
troops defending Buefelds, the most important east
coast port and defeated them decsivey and captured
the city So the revolution must already begun
and in earnest.
Which would seem to leave just the important
question to be answered, namely, what If Gales did
contribute $4,000 to the liberals? Gales in common
with what seemed majority opinion throughout Latin
America openly stated his sympathy for the liberal
cause and the liberal president Sacasa, was recoga
nized by Mexico as Ncaraguas legitimate ruler. Was
Gales then not as much within his rights in aiding
the Sacasa government the United States was in
aiding the minority, and, many think, illegal, govern
ment of President Diaz, whom it favored?
In all conscience it would certainly seem So