gPPBP WWWWI P'i" I iiiiiiiii "' -nn f HWF'-W-rV, - (VpflBfff'flpi;HJ, IJr "7W W f ' ,Wt f Ps,K, y.ry.; The Commoner SEPTEMBER, 1913 President's Message on the Mexican Situation 0 "The steady pressure of moral force will before muny days break the bar- riers of pride and prejudice down, and wo shall triumph as Mexico's friends sooner than we coidd triumph as her 0 enemies and how much more baud- somely, with how much higher and finer satisfactions of conscience and of honor!" President Wilson. The message of the president of the United States, delivered at 'a joint session of the two houses of congress; August 27, 1913: Gentlemen of the Congress: It is clearb my duty to lay before you, very fully and without reservation, the facts concerning our present relations with the Republic of Mexico. The deplorable posture of affairs in Mexico I need not describe, but I deem it my duty to speak very frankly of what this government has done and should seek to do in fulfillment of its obli gation to Mexico herself, as a friend and neigh bor, and to American citizens whose lives and vital interests are daily affected by the distress ing conditions which now obtain beyond our southern border. Those conditions touch us very nearly. Not merely because they lie at our very doors. That of course makes us more vividly and more con stantly conscious of them, and every instinct of neighborly interest and sympathy is aroused and quickened by them; but that Is only one element in the determination of our duty. We are glad to call ourselves the friends of Mexico, and we shall, I hope, have many an occasion, in happier times as well as in these days of trouble and confusion, to show that our friendship is genuine and disinterested, capable' of sacrifice and every generous manifestation. The peace, prosperity, and contentment of Mexico mean more, much more, to us than merely an enlarged field for our commerce and enterprise. They mean an enlargement of the field of self-government and the realization of the hopes and rights of a na tion with whoso best aspirations, so long sup pressed and disappointed, we deeply sympathize. We shall yet prove to the Mexican people that we know .how to serve them without first think ing how we shall serve ourselves. But we are not the only friends of Mexico. The whole world desires her peace and pro gress; and the whole world Is interested a3 never before. Mexico lies at last where all the world looks on. Central America is about to be touched by the great routes of the world's trade and Intercourse running free from ocean to ocean at the isthmus. The future has much in store for Mexico, as for all the states of Central America; but the best gifts can come to her only if she be ready and free to receive them and to enjoy them honorably. America in particular America north and south and upon both continents waits upon the develop ment of Mexico; and that development can be sound and lasting only if it be the product of a genuine freedom, a just and ordered govern ment founded upon law. Only so can it be peaceful or fruitful of the benefits of peace. Mexico has a great and enviable future before her, if only she choose and attain the paths of hones$ constitutional government. The present circumstances of the republic, I deeply regret to say, do not seem to promise even the foundations of such a peace. Wo have waited many months, months full of peril and anxiety, for the conditions there to improve, and they have not improved. They have grown worse, rather. The territory in some sort con trolled by the provisional authorities at Mexico City has grown smaller, not larger. The prospect of the pacification of the country, even by arms, has seemed to grow more and more remote; and its pacification by the authorities at the capital is evidently impossible by any other means than force. Difficulties mora and more entangle those who claim to constitute the legitimate government of the republic. They have not miade good their claim in fact Their successes in the field have proved only temporary. War and disorder, devastation and confusion, seem to threaten to become the settled fortune of the distracted country. As friends we could wait ao longer for a solution which every week seemed further away. It was our duty at least to volunteer our good offices to offor to assist, if we might, in effecting some arrangement which would bring relief and peace and sot up a universally acknowledged political authority there. Accordingly, I took the liberty of sending tho Hon. John Lind, formerly governor of Minne sota, as my personal spokesman and represen tative, to the City of Mexico, with tho following instructions: Press very earnestly upon tho attention of those who are now exercising authority or wielding influence in Mexico tho following con siderations and advice: The government of tho United States docs not feel at liberty any longer to stand inactively by while it becomes daily more and more evident that no real progress is being made towards tho ' establishment of a government at the City of Mpxico which the country will obey and respect. The government of tho United States does not stand in the samo case with the other great governments of the world In respect of what is happening or what Is likely to happen in Mexico. We offer our good offices, not only because of our genuine desire to play tho part of a friend, but also because we are expected by the powers of the world to act as Mexico's nearest friend. We wish to act in these circumstances In the spirit of the most earnest and disinterested friendship. It is our purpose in whatever we do or propose In this perplexing and distressing situation not only to pay the most scrupulous regard to the sovereignty and independence of Mexico that we take as a matter of course to which wo are bound by every obligation of right and honor but also to give every possible evi dence that we act In the interest of Mexico alono, and not In the interest of any person or body of persons who may have personal or property claims in Mexico which they may feel that they have the right to press. Wo are seek ing to counsel Mexico for her own good and in the interest of her own peace, and not for any other purpose whatever. The government of tho United States would deem itself discredited if it had any selfish or ulterior purpose In transactions where the peace, happiness, and prosperity of a whole people are involved. It Is acting as its friendship for Mexico, not as any selfish Interest, dictates. The present situation In Mexico is Incom patible with tho fulfillment of International obli gations on the part of Mexico, with the civilized development of Mexico herself, and with tho maintenance of tolerable political and economic conditions in Central America. It Is upon no common occasion, therefore, that the United States offers her counsel and assistance. All America cries out for a settlement. A satisfactory settlement seems to us to be conditioned on (a) An immediate cessation of fighting throughout Mexico, a definite armistice solemnly entered into and scrupulously observed; (b) Security given for an early and free election In which all will agree to take part; (c) The consent of General Huerta to bind himself not to be a candidate for election as president of the republic at this election; and (d) The agreement of all parties to abide by the results of the election and co-operate in the most loyal way in organizing and supporting the new administration. The government of the United States will be glad to play any part in this settlement or in its carrying out which It can play honorably and consistently with international right. It pledges itself to recognize and In every way pos sible and proper to assist the administration chosen and set up in Mexico In the way and on the conditions suggested. Taking all the existing conditions Into con sideration, the government of the United States can conceive of no reasons sufficient to justify those who are now attempting to chape the policy or exercise the authority of Mexico in de clining the offices of friendship thus offered. Can Mexico give the civilized world a satisfac tory reason for rejecting our good offices? If Mexico can suggest any better way In which to show our friendship, serve the people of Mexico, and meet our international obligations, we are more than willing to consider the suggestion. Mr. Lind executed his delicate and difficult mission with singular tact, firmness, and good judgment, and made clear o the authorities at the City of Moxlco not only tho purposo of his visit but also tho spirit In which it had boon undortakon. But tho proposals ho submitted were rejected, In a noto tho full toxt of which I tako tho liberty of lnylng before you. I am lod to bollovo that thoy wore rejected partly bccatiKo tho authorities at Mexico City had been grossly misinformed and misled upon two points. Thoy did not realize the spirit of tho American people In this matter, their oarncst friendliness and yet sober determination that some just solution be found for tho Mexican dillicultieH; and thoy did not bolleve that tho present administration spoke, through Mr. Lind, for the people of tho United States. Tho effect of this unfortunate misunderstanding on their part is to leave them singularly isolated and without friends who can effectually aid them. So long as the misunderstanding continues w can only await tho time of their awakening to a realization of the actual facts. Wo can not thrust our good offices upon thorn. Tho situa tion must bo given a little more time to work itself out In tho new circumstances; and I be lieve that only a little while will bo necessary. For tho circumstances aro new. Tho rejection of our friendship makes them now and will in evitably bring Its own alterations In tho whol aspect of affairs. Tho actual situation of the authorities at Mexico City will presently bo ro vealed. Meanwhile, what is It our duty to do? Clearly, everything that we do must be rooted In patlonc and dono with calm and disinterested delibera tion, impatience on our part would bo childish, and would be fraught with every risk of wrong and folly. Wo can afford to oxerclso tho self restraint of a really groat nation which realizes Its own strength and scorns to misuse It. It was our duty to offor our actlvo assistance. It Is now our duty to show what true neutrality will do to enable the people of Moxlco to set their affairs In order again and wait for a further opportunity to offer our friendly counsels. Tho door Is not closed against tho resumption, either upon the inltlatlvo of Moxlco or upon our own, of the effort to bring ordor out of the confusion by friendly co-operative action, should fortu nate occasion offer. "While wo wait tho contest of tho rival forces will undoubtedly for a little whilo bo sharper than ever, just because It will bo plain that an end must be made of tho existing situation, and that very promptly; and with tho Increased activity of tho contending factions will come, it Is to be feared, Increased danger to tho non combatants in Mexico as well as to those actually in the field of battle. The position of outsiders Is always particularly trying and full of hazard where there is civil strife and a whole country Is upset. Wo should earnestly urge all Ameri cans to leave Mexico at once, and should assist them to get away in every way possible not because wo would mean to slacken in tho least our efforts to safeguard their lives and their Interests, but because it Is Imperative that they should take no unnecessary risks when It is physically possiblo for them to leave tho coun try. We should let every one who assumes to exercise authority in any part of Mexico know in tho most unequivocal way that we shall vigilantly watch the fortunes of those Ameri cans who can not get away, and shall hold thost responsible for their sufferings and losses to a definite reckoning. That can bo and will ba made plain beyond tho possibility of a misunder standing. For tho rest, I deem It my duty to exerclsa the authority conferred upon me by tho law of March 14, 1912, to seo to It that neither side to the struggle now going on In Mexico receive any assistance from this side the border. I shall follow the best practice of nations in the matter of neutrality by forbidding tho exporta tion of arms or munitions of war of any kind from the United States to any jpart of tho Re public of Mexico a policy suggested by several interesting precedents and certainly dictated by many manifest considerations of practical ex pediency. We can not in the circumstances ba the partisans of either party to the contest that now distracts Mexico, or constitute ourselves tha virtual umpire between them. I am happy to say that several of the great governments of the world have given this gov ernment their generous moral support in urging: apon the provisional authorities at the City of Mexico tho acceptance of our proffered good offices in tho spirit in which they were rKa.de. We have not acted in this matter under the ordi nary principles of International obligation. All the world expects us in such circumstances to act as Mexico's nearest friend and intimate ad-