A MANDATE FOR MEXICO.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3386, 15 January 1920, Page 6

A MANDATE FOR MEXICO.

l The problem Of l\-[e.\';ieo is discussed by the World’s VV-o_l'k in. the following ternls:—The fundamental difiiculty today, as ‘President Wilson declared belfore Congress five years ago, is -that ,-“Mexico has no Government.” The problem indeed goes even deeper tha_n that, for it is the judgment of most [men familiar with Mexican conditions lthat the Mexican people, unassisted, can never construct a Government.” ‘This is the fact which 'Ameri’cans have to face, either now, or five years from now. The trouble with i i\[e:~:ico is primarily Carranza; for Villa, ‘or Felix Diaz. or any‘o_tl_ier of the ,_numerous adventurers and bandits who ‘occasionally gain temporary sway l of the Mexican populß.ce—-the: difliculty [lies with the Mexican people themgselves. Out of -the 15,000,000 popuilation at least 13_.000,000 are pure-, ; blooded Indians, and it is absurd to be lieve that these Indians have the abil~j ity unaided to establish a democratic-if government. The suggestion is then made -that the ‘League of Nations should give the United States a man,date for the training of the “back- ! ward peoples” of Mexico, and points to Etho success of the Am.eriea.u Adminisitration in -the Philippine Islands. ‘ whicli, when taken over from Spain in 1899, were as badly disorganised -as Mexico is to-cl-ay, land they were just as lacking in what may be called the! fundamentals of civilisation——universal , primary education, sanitation, agricul-[ ture, communieiations-——as is Mexico today. In twenty years all these agencies of progress have been introduced, with the result that the Philippines are to-day prosperous, happy, even enlight’ ened, and show a capacity for selfgovernment, which points to the day when, under proper control, their independance can be given them. That is the duty which is marked out in Mexico. The League of Nations would probably be glad to make the United States the mandatory of the Indian Republielto the south; the duty is one which, however much -they might like to avoid it, it is utterly beyond -their! power to refuse. The only solution is‘ to attempt to build up an orderly State 5 land to give the. IV[eXl('.Elll people a fair ehance of life. That is the duty which i the United States will ultimately be’ called upon to assume. i