The Daily News. THURSDAY, APRIL 23, 1914. THE MEXICAN PROBLEM.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 272, 23 April 1914, Page 4

The Daily News. THURSDAY, APRIL 23, 1914. THE MEXICAN PROBLEM.

Only those who know tho history of -Mexico can realise the gravity (if the ' ation which the United States is now ■ called upon to face. Apart from the > democratic aversion to armed intcrfer- 1 ence in foreign entanglements, and their 1 rigid adherence to the Monroe doctrine, j if America mice starts in to avenge the insult arising from the arrest of a number of her marines, and .the subsequent refusal of Huei ta to apologise therefor, there is no knowing how far the force of circumstances will compel her to go. It may be she recognises that a war with Mexico is possibly beyond her resources, for if once entered upon it may not be possible to sound the recall until the whole country has been subdued into a pacific mood. Such a task in any other country but Mexico might not be fraught with insuperable difficulties, but the Spanish and Indian fighting blood and the centuries of internal warfare of a peculiarly malignant and atrocious nature has so accustomed the inhabitants of Mexico to fighting, manoeuvring, and looting that it would almost seem impossible to pacify the country until the very last of the bloodthirsty populatin was exterminated. It is small wonder, therefore, that a certain amount of hesitation has been manifested by President Wilson and his Cabinet in arriving at a decision as to taking action, hut Huerta's defiant attitude has at last apparently roused the American authorities to action. The question is whether i the United States can, single-handed, ] cope with the trouble. There is ft consensus of opinion that the time has arrived when some decisive step must be j taken to secure the safety of foreign j subjects in Mexico, for it must be 'borne j in mind that foreign interests in that I country are very large. The policy of ] the United States practically prevents foreign interference, and this very fact ■ imposes on America the duty of either altering that policy or taking the necessary steps to protect the i: ves and pro- , perty of the citizens of other nations interested in Mexico. Tt has required the exercise of statesmanship to prevent a rupture between England and America over the murder of Mr. Ronton, and even now Britain is holding out the threat that if the United Stales does not seo fit to protect its own and British subjects, the British Government reserves to itself the right to enforce reparation. The latest cable news implies that the United States Government is preparing for action. The kind of warfare this is i likely to result in wns evidenced by the fighting and massacres at Torreon and Tampico. A large portion of the country is difficult to traverse, and far more ! difficult to over-rim with an armed force ■ harassed on all sides by adepts at guer- ; ilia warfare. The open revolts, robbery, ' and slaughter that are, now prevalent quite accords with the customs of tho country which, though bountifully blessed by Nature, has always been a hotbed of revolution, rapine and treachery. The crushing of Huerta's power is only a necessary detail. It does not stand for peace in the slightest degree. It would also by no means follow that the rival leaders, Villa and Carranza, would tamely submit to having-their, occupation forcibly wrenched away. On the contrary, it is more likely that there would temporarily lie a suspension of party .struggles in face of a. common enemy. This lias occurred before, and is likely to recur. With England, Franco and Germany all interested in the establishment of a stable and orderly regime in Mexico, it is an open question as to whether the United States is well advised in taking a lone hand .that may overtax the available resources of that country, great as they are. The problem is difficult, but not unsolvable if the right measures are taken. Once the United States is involved in war with Mexico there should be 110 turning back until the end is accomplished to tho satisfaction of all interested parties. It is probable, however, that the day is yet distant when this very desirable achievement will ,be recorded.