The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, MAY 3, 1911. THE MEXICAN MIX-UP.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 291, 3 May 1911, Page 4

The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, MAY 3, 1911. THE MEXICAN MIX-UP.

New Zealanders arc not permitted perusal of the evidence necessary in order to come to a reasonable conclusion about tlic causes which have led to the insurrection in Mexico. It is generally believed that the implacable old dictator, Diaz, having been in the habit of at once squelching any disturbance among his passionate subjects, M,idero was a mere fool in attempting to butt up against constituted authority. In order to quell the rising in a single act, it was threatened that rebels would be ruthlessly exterminated. If there is anything that incites a rebel with a redhot cause to fight all the harder, it is a tin-eat of extermination. For his part lie can do some exterminating too. We know the rebels' cause is red-hot, but there is no evidence on which to decide whether it is a just cause. It is agreed, apparently, in America that the conflicts between State troops and insurrectionists are of a comic opera variety. These matters of slaying and burning are generally amusing to the people who are only attached by telegraph with the centre of disturbance. It is easy to smile at the thought of a pile of dead Mexicans from an armchair in New York or Melbourne. There is a suspieiori that little of a reliable nature is coming from the seat of disturbance, mainly, one 'supposes, because our American relatives are the source of news supply. We do not know, for instance, whether poor old Diaz really said that "peace is near," or whether one of the sight-seeing American pressmen undertook the task of setting down Mexican public opinion "on his own." A United States torpedo fleet may have proceeded into Mexican waters. and then again it may not have. We have been asked to believe both alleged facts. There may be twenty thousand United States troops scattered along that country's borders, and, again, the Americans gathered there may be watching the fun. To people whose chief excitements consist in large railway accidents. occasional lyncliings and factory burnings, a little promiscuous shooting might afford relief from boredom. It is impossible to say whether the Monroe doctrine is keeping a dignified countenance in this affair, or whether it is being badly strained. It was alleged that the hand of Japan was hardly concealed in the revolution. It was further suggested that hungry American concessionaires in Mexico were at the bottom of the bother. Britain has been in the habit in times past of landing forces able to fight in anv disturbed portion of the globe where British subjects resided. It appears that British bluejackets havo had a careful look round a Mexican port and have returned to their ship. "Is it an act of war?" asks the sensationmonger, hoping it may be. Nations are very pernicketty about these matters. Even New Zealand refused to allow armed foreigners to land on a certain ceremonial occasion, but has forgotten on another occasion to tell foreigners to leave their arms behind. The facts, as they appear to the reader of cablegrams! seem to be that Mexico is in a state of seething unrest; that, as far as Mexico itself is concerned, there is nothing comic opera about it; that lives are being freely

sacrificed, ami that enormous damage is being done to the interests of American millionaires in the disturbed republic. This is tlic phase of the revolution that is not regarded as mere "play-acting" by the United States, and the onu hunt may yet lead to a new reading of tlie Monroe doctrine. More or less reliable news from Washington mentions that the rebel leader lladero is agreeable to a temporary cessation of hostilities in order that differences may be adjusted, if possible. It is to be hoped that the armistice will he arranged, in order that the world may know what the differences are, and whether the insurrectionists who are fracturing American trade so badly have any reason for being so fightable. In the same message conveying the above information, the most important item is that "neither side has made any overtures." If this is reliable, the presumption is that Diaz will proceed with his "war of extermination" until the rebels are smashed, or until Diaz is de-' posed or dead. To instantly stop the revolution, the dictator has merely to agree that he is to be no longer president. If, as has been stated, Diaz is the tool of American capitalists, presumably the capitalists have the fate of Mexico and the lives of the rebels in their own hands. They have merely to ildviSe Diaz that lie must gracefully climb out of the dictatorship, and he must obey his masters—if they are his masters. In order to show how intimately the United States is connected with Mexico it is only necessary to state that four great railways cross the borders of the two countries, all running north. Of the 14 million people in Mexico, 43 per cent, arc half-breeds, the best possible ammunition for revolution. Thirty-eight per cent, is pure Tndian, a race not given to peaceful arbitrament. The greater proportion of stock in the famous Mexican silver mines is held in America or by Americans in Mexico, and this is one of the reasons why the United States is feelinp anxious about its pocket. Americans told the enormous mahogany concessions, it practically controls the cocoa business, runs many of the coal deposits, has a large finger in the petroleum trade, and works many of the lead, iron, bismuth and antimony mines. No wonder the United .States is anxiously looking across the border to see how Messrs. Diaz and Madero are getting on. There is less comedy about the situation than is suggested by some recent press opinions.