AMERICA'S MEXICAN POLICY.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 16, 9 May 1914, Page 4

AMERICA'S MEXICAN POLICY.

What the Christchurch "Press" considers a telling point against President Wilson's Mexican policy is made by the editor of the "North American Review." Mr Wilson based his refusal to recognise Huerta as provisional President of Mexico on the principle that he would repudiate all SpanishAmerican Governments "stained by blood or supported by anything but the consent of the governed." But, according to the "North American Eeview," Mr Wilson violated that principle when he recognised the' new President of Peru. Between the situations in Mexico and Peru there is a close resemblance. In each country there is a constitution, but in neither is it respected. In 1912 there was no result at the polls for the election of a President of Peru, because .the mob burned the ballot-boxes, whereupon Congress duly elected Senor Billinghurst. He is believed to have done his best to govern honestly and efficiently, but the ruling class, offended by his administration, deposed him by force and imprisoned him, and incidentally killed the Minister for War. Colonel Benavides, the leader of the insurgents, declared himself provisional President, precisely as Huerta had done, and, like Huerta, sought recognition of his de facto Government from the United States. President Wilson had refused recognition in Huerta's case, but he gave it to Colonel Benavidos. The contrast between the two cases seems to show a startling inconsistency.