The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER FRIDAY, MARCH 17, 1916. THE MEXICAN TROUBLE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 86, 17 March 1916, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER FRIDAY, MARCH 17, 1916. THE MEXICAN TROUBLE.

The President of the United States oi America would doubtless be much pained to discover that the latest phase of thg trouble with Mexico is due to the machinations of his friends from Germany, but nobody else will be much surprised at this fresh side-light on the Potsdam propaganda, the aim and object of which appears to be to plunge every corner of the world into strife. It is now imperative for America tu

make .some active move against the Mexican bandits" and to at least attempt to protect American citizens, who may be resident in Mexico. Ever since his election President Wilson has been satisfied to adopt a policy of masterly inactivity while rival factions in' Mexico tore themselves to pieces, and American citizens within that country were being despoiled and massacred. Now that the bandits. growing bolder, have ventured upon an invasion of United States territory, and have destroyed a frontier town it is difficult to see bow the American Government, can any longer avoid interference that should have taken place long ago to put the- turbulent little ftate in order. It has been pointed out many rimes thai ihe great mistake which the Washington Govern-

ment made was when some two or three years ago it recalled its army from Vera Cruz. It had then an opportunity of putting down anarchy with a firm hand, but the withdrawal signified to the .Mexican mind a wea'c pusillanimous policy. The President's idea to "isolate Mexico and let the Mexicans fight it out themßolves"_ has maintained an open sore in territory

adjacent to the United States and has givqn the world the spectacle of * powerful State shutting its eyes to acts of lawlessness and violence by a turbulent neighbor which national pride and the dictates of humanity should never have permitted. "It would be difficult," says one outspoken American paper, "to find an historic parallel for the blundering fatuity and impudent meddlesomeness which has characterised cur treatment of Mexico. The one and only thing the administration did succeed in accomplishing was The downfall of Huerta, the elimination of the one man ill Mexico who has the confidence and support of the intelligent white people ot Mexico, and the only nian who seemed able to restore order to the distracted country and to protect the life and property of foreigners there." "It would seem at last," says the San Francisco Argonaut of a few weeks i ago, "that the country is waking up ito the fact of the Mexican situation and to comprehension of the shame-

ful part the United States has played in relation to it. Nothing in the whole range of our international relations has been so discredible— not even the Panama, incident. Vowing it would not interfere in Mexican internal affairs, the American administration put the whole weight of its powers against Huerta. and drove him from the country, Concurrently it gave aid, comfort—and arms—to the futile Carranza and the ruffian Villa. It is due to its interference that Huerta, who might have pacified the country, is now an exile and that chaos reigns in Mexico. It follows by the simplest logic

that we are responsible. We created! the conditions out of which have come the ten thousand (.'rimes of the past year and which now hold the country in the grin-, of a remorseless anarchy. Nobody, by fine phrases, can put any other face upon the matter." Surely the watchful waiting policy, so academically line, and which seems to characterise all President Wilson's foreign relations, must be ended in Mexico's case, and once for all ? cost wlrat it may, it IJteomejs America's duty to settle the quarrels of petty chieftains with a firm hand, and again place the country on the road that may lead to a state of peace and prosperity.