CARRANZA.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11730, 21 June 1916, Page 4

CARRANZA.

— THE MEXICAN PRESIDENT. (By C. M. DEPFBR, in the "San Frnncisco Chronicle.") What may bo, expected of Carranza ? Tt", is too soon to spenk of him as the head of the Mexican Republic, for there is uonc. But he is the head of the de facto Mexican Government, recognised by the United States and other countries. Consistency may bo expected of him ui this capacity. liis whole career shows that he is uob an opportunist. Ho is the same Carranza that he was when, as the head of a wandering cabinet in the Sierra Madres. he claimed to he tho constitutional government of Mexico by virtue of his position as Governor of the State of Coahuila. He asserted the same right of recognition by foreign Powers then that is now accorded him. His fugitive government ha maintained was the constitutional regimo of Mexico, and as such-charged with maintaining proper respect tor Mexican sovereignty. Carranza was consistent in his attitude when ho turned back tho British and American officials, who thought they were going across the Rio Grande to investigate the murder of Benton ou Mexican soil. Carranza held that Benton, having been killed on Mexican soil, the only proper investigating body was the authority of Mexico as personi- ; ! fied in him as the first chief. J TESTS., ! Caruanza also was consistent when he sent homo the Spanish Miuister and , tlio Guatemalan Minister because they were charged with acts hostile to his Government. He was equally consistent in his rejection of tho "A B C" ultimatum that he must get out, aud allow a compromise chief,- representing all factions, to be chosen. i His unbending would not permit him to let the Washington Administration save its face by forcing him to efface himself in the interest of Sonor Tagle, whose selection as the compromise head of the different factions would have been in accordance with the Washington policv. This has been Carranza's attitude .toward foroign Powers. It may be that he will mellow a little in the sunlight of recognition by these Powers, but there will be no change in his general policy in international affairs. The United States and other countries which have submitted to his rebuffs already have indicated that they will be mtient while he is seeking fully to establish bis moral and material capacity to dominate Mexico's turbulent internal affairs. Most Americans whose •, admiration he has won bv his grit in refusing to be eliminated, will wi«h him well in hie present task, but will be able entirely to conceal their misgivings. HAS COURAGE. Carranza has shown that lie has tho courage of obstinacy, or conviction, according as liis actions may be viewed. What he has achieved in the way of , holding together. the revolutionary forces, outside those of Villa and Zapata, has been without the possession of the slightest degree of personal magnetism. He has been as unbending to the military chiefs who acknowledged him as first vchief as to the foreign "Powers. The significant development of the past six months has .been the loyalty of these chiefs. When tho Pan-American conferees, including the United States, formulated their coercivo programme' there was every confidence that" Carranza would >be deserted by his chiefs. It is only a few weeks since the official outgivings from Washington bluntlv stated that, whilo Carranza himself might hold out to the la«t ditch, he would be alone and would become a negligible factor. Undoubtedly, some of Carranza's civilian subordinates and fr-rmer associates were ready to desert him; but the fighting element stood firmlv by him. and Washington was compelled to admit, ono more addition to it* numerous failures to understand the Mexican situation. MILITARY CHIEFS LOYAL. Since the military chiefs are still loyal, it may be thai the country will accept the de facto government and support Carranza's measures for a while, Carranza will take his own time in putting into effect the imposing programme of social and economic reforms about, which so much has been heard ; yet there is no reason to question his good faith in this programme so long as making it effective is left entirely to him. He cannot delay indefinitely making some efforts to give the peons the, land which is their noritage. If his way of doing it fails to accomplish results, Carranza's reasoning will be that it is the fault of the peons, and not of the administration of which he is the head. This is one of the mental processes of which he has given frequent evidence. Respectability, at least' superficial respectability, may be expected from the Carranza de'facto government. Carranza has 110 endless chain of kinsmen who must be taken care of, and the carnival of grafting, which clouded tho Madero administration, will not be so much in evidence. Madero, like Carranza, was respectable; but he was an idealist surrounded by materialists. Carranza is an austere old man who may be surrounded by grafters, but who j cannot be so easily imposed upon, j These things may be expected of Carranza. What may be expected of the Mexican Indian population and of thg tribal ch ; efs_ after a few months, or a year or sp, is the unopened chapter of Mexico's bloody history.