The Dominion. TUESDAY, MARCH, 13, 1917. STIRRING UP TROUBLE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3026, 13 March 1917, Page 4

The Dominion. TUESDAY, MARCH, 13, 1917. STIRRING UP TROUBLE

> How fiir the revolution now in progress in Peru is the outcomc of German intrigue has not yet been disclosed, but that German agents have been active in. all parts of oouth Amorica has been- common knowledge for some time past. The long stretch of .lonely* coast lino afforded opportunity for establishing depots ior supplying German cruisers in the earlier clays of the war, German oommercc raiders in more recent times, with the supplies they require, as veil as with useful information, and the most has been made ot tlic opportunity. It is in tlc-vico, however, that German activities would seem to have assumed tnoi,!* m ost threatening aspect. U'OUNT BimsfO.'iirs denial ol any Knowledge, of (he developments "■lnch have been taking place in Mexico may be safely set aside as jure fiction. According to a New Vork message to-day, it is stated shan there is evidence that six thousand Germans arc at work in Al.exico, plotting, collecting funds, preparing to make trouble for the United States. Moreover four .high-power radio stations ii.ro said to bo in course of erection in .Mexico, with tho object of transmitting messages to Gerraanv or'to Keop Ge/mart submarines and comuierco raiders informed of shipping movements and other matters of concern to them. The exposure, recently made of the attempt bv Germany l.ri induce Mexico, in conjunction with Japan, to strike. a i. tho United States im.v be takeu as a clear indication of l!„. lengths to which the conspiracy had advanced on tho German side; but the I'ull extent of the menace behind it cannot, be estimated without an. understanding of the conditions existing in Mexico. \Yi;ufc might see/11 a futile and loolish enterprise in most countries would, under the stale of affairs prevailing in Mexico, very probably present hopeful prospects ot finding ready support and uf developing into ,1 formidable ' movement.

A good deal of light is thrown on the situation by tho investigations or the special commissioner of the New York Outlook, Mi;. Gregory Mason, who was sent to Mexico by the journal in question tu study conditions and possibilities. Tin; result of his inquiries and observations arc set out in an article pubi¥ I! 1 " nc ,°i January issues ot the Outlook. His summing up of a somewhat chaotic situation so far as tho foreign element in Mexico is concerned is that in point of popularity the Germans lead. There are many Mexicans who think, as .Huerta once remarked, that the three greatest nations of the world are Mexico, Japan, and Germany, and some of them hope," remarked Mx. Mason, "as Huekta is reported to have added, that some day theso three nations will get together and United States off the map. It is rather a curious coincidence that Mii, Mason, writing in Deconibci* last, should have, : in a passing comment of this nature, anticipated the plans on which Germany, was at that time secretly working, and which a month or two later were, exposed l:o the whole world. So far as the 'Japanese in' Mcxico aro, concerned, the Outlook i epicsciitative dismissed as mere empty words the alarmist stories of Japanese machinations against the United States. "Tho worst that can 'bo said against tho Japanese in Mexico from a purely selfish American point of view," he remarked, is that they arc very much alive to their commercial opportunities there." But with ' the Germans it is different. Mexico would be glad to have the protection, of Germany against what she considers the aggression of tho United States, and Germany would, Mb. Mason suggests, be. equally glad to have Mexico as a colony, or, failing that,, as a tool ready (o use should occasion arise. But'the evidence of German conspiracy at that time was difficult to discover. The sentiment in favour of Germany; was <

l l; '~rV? lain Rno "S h - an alliance [with Germany, and also an alliance \vith Japan, have long boon popular dreams, but the probability of these things appeared to bo growing more , remote, and Mexico was turning her attention to the South American lopublics "with a view to closer relations.

Iti "was wlrilc Mexico was in this .-iraino of mind that German agents ' began to grow active, and it is not at all surprising in the circumstances that Germany should havo built high hopes of making Mexico her tool to use against America. .Everything, indeed, was in her favour, for, as M.r. Mason sadly confesses, of all the foreigners in Mexico the Americans, next to the Spaniards, are the most disliked. A prospect of a Mexico-Japanese-German alliance against the hated "gringocs," as the Americans aro styled, must have been an alluring bait to dangle before the Mexicans, but tha exposure of the conspiracy andthe prompt and emphatic repudiation by Japan of any knowledge of or sympathy with tho plot prevented Mexico falling a victim. But though foiled in this particular effort, the German organisation is still at work in Mexico, and is .grefwing in strength. It has money and it is said to bo in possession of arms and munitions; and there aro immense possibilities in Mexico for those who oontrol the disposal of money and arms. It would be unwise, therefore, to regard Germany's capacity for mischief making in Mexico as of little consequence in its influence on the United States. It is a danger which the peoplo of America cannot afford to make light of, and which should further embitter their growing antagonism to Germany.- "