The Mexican Situation.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15561, 10 April 1916, Page 6

The Mexican Situation.

Tho lot of the American Government is a very unhappy one just now. Not only are fresh submarine outrages callins for attention and demanding some more drastic action than has contented the President in the past; the situation in Mexico has grown extremely dangerous. A section of the O-rranza Government's forces have joined Villa, and anti-Amcrican feeling is spreading. The operations against Villa are quite likely to turn into war against Mexico, and America is not in a condition to undertake such a war in any effective manner. Tho immediate cause of America's armed intervention was tho murder of eighteen peaceable American citizens at Santa Ysabel on January 10th, but the present situation is regarded by many Americans as the result of America's feeble policy since the fall of Diaz. Tho history of Mexico since 1911 roads like a "shilling shockor." The insurrection against Diaz, led by Madero. was a popular rising against foreign exploitation and the oppression of the masses. Diaz resigned in May, 1911, and was succeeded in October by Madero, who was not strong enough to control tho forccs his successful rebellion had unchained. Early in 1913 Felix Diaz, a nephew of the old President, succeeded in seizing Mexico and confining Madero and tho Government troops in tho National Palace. General Hucrta. Madero's Commander-in-Chief, turned against the Government, and was proclaimed Provisional President. Hucrta murdered the Maderos, and set himself to control the country by virtue of his command of the Army. The Wilson Government refused to recognise Hucrta, and proclaimed, on its own account, a " policy "of watchful waiting." Tho reform elements in the northern provinces revolted once moro soon after Huerta became President, and they were led bv Carranza. Their movement spread, and their forces, of whom Villa was tho most successful lea-der, mado steady progress southward. In April, 1914, Hucrta and the American Government came into collision. Some American marines had been arrested at Tampico, and tho American Government demanded reparation. This was refused, and, aft<?r an ultimatum to Huerta had been ignored, the American Fleet occupied Vera Cruz, after some fighting. There followed some negotiations for a settlement, which came to nothing. In the meantime. Carranza's forces, led by Villa, continued their successful campaign, and Huerta resigned and fled in July, 1914. Carranza entered the capital in August, and Villa lost no time in rebelling against his chief. In November, 1914, Carranza, menaced by the forces o£ Villa and Zapata, retired to Vera Cruz. Civil war then broke out afresh, and lasted through the first half of 1915. In Juno last President Wilson called on the factions to act together for the relief of their desolate country, threatening intervention by America. In July President Wilson called a conference of the Latin-American-Republics, and this gathering proposed a conference of those directing tho armed movements in Mexico. Carranza declined the proposal, and in Dctober last his Government was formally recognised by tho United States.

The murder of the Americans in January exposed tho Wilson Administration to very severe criticism. Many prominent Democrats were as outspoken as the Republicans in denouncing the President's policy of inaction, and throughout America there were cries of shame and indignation that their Government could only stand by while American citizens were murdered by Mexican savages. Colonel Roosevelt, as one would expect, was very emphatic. The January outrage, he declared, was the direct outcome of " ' the policy of watchful waiting, the "policy of not interfering with 'blood- " ' spilling.' "

"Wo did nothing," he said, " will en our citizens were murdered on the high seas by Germany. Apparently, we intend to do nothing about the citizens that havo been murdered by Mexico—and, remember, that President "Wilson had recognised the Mexican Government, which, nevertheless, he so distrusted that he warned our citizens that at the peril of their lives they must not sta-c in Mexico. Meanwhile for three years our Army and Navv have deteriorated and Bryan, Kitcliin, Hay. and tho other party associates of Mr "Wilson seem bent on rivalling one another as to which can most successfully obstruct the purpose of the American people to prepare for its own defence. And President "Wilson is himself personally responsible for the fact that during the eighteen months since the great war began not one step in preparedness has been taken."

The President is now a n advocate of preparedness, but with the mis«rablo consequences of unpreparedness visible in Mexico and on the high 6eas many influential Democrats are still insisting that a big Army and a big Navy are jiot required and will only be a curse to the country.