CARRANZA.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 July 1916, Page 4

CARRANZA.

THE MEXICAN PRESIDENT.

(By C. M. Dcpfer, ii; tlu- San Francis^

Chronicle.)

What may be expected of Carranza? It is too soon to speak of him as the head of the Mexican Republic, for there is none. But lie is the head of the de facto Mexican Government, recognised by the United States and other countries.

Consistency may be expected of him in this capacity. His whole career shows that lie is not an opportunist. He is the same Carranza that he was when, at the head of a wondering Cabinet in (he Sierra Madres, he claimed to be the constitutional government of Mexico by virtue of his position as Governor of the State of Coahnila. He asserted the same right of recognition by foreign Powers then that is now accorded him. His fugitive government he maintained was the constitutional regime of Mexico, and a 9 such charged with maintaining proper respect for Mexican sovereignty.

Carranza was consistent in his attitude when be turned back the British tnd American officials, who thought they were going across the Rio Grande to in« vestigate the murder of Benton on MexU can soil. Carranza held that Benton, having been killed on Mexican soil, the only proper investigating body was the authority of Mexico as personified in him as the first chief. J

TESTS. Carranza also was consistent when he sent home the Spanish Minister and the Guatemalan Minister because they were charged with acts hostile to his Governmint. He. was equally consistent in hie reaction of the "ABC" ultimatum that he must get out, and allow a compromise chief, representing all factions, to be chosen.

His unbending consistency would not permit niiu to let the Washington Administration save its face by forcing him to efface himself in the interest of. Senor Tagle, whose selection as the compromise head of the different factions would have been in accordance with the Washington policy This has been Carranza's attitude toward foreign Powers. It may be that be will mellow a little in the sunlight of recognition oy these Powers, but there will be no change in bis general policy in international afTnirs. The United States and other countries which have submitted to his rebuffs already have indicated that they will be patient while he is seeking fully to establish his moral and material capacity to dominate Mexico's turbulent internal affairs. Most Americans whose admiration he has won by his grit in refusing to be eliminated, will wish him well in his present task, out will not be able entirely to conceal their misgivings. _

HAS COURAGE. Carranza has shown that he has tne courage of obstinacy, or conviction, according as his actions may be viewed. What he has achieved in the way of holding together the revolutionary forces, outside those of Villa and Zapata, *ma been without the possession of the Slightest degree of personal magnetism, rle has been as unbending to the military chiefs who acknowledged him as first chief as to the foreign Powers. The significant development of the past six months has been the loyalty of these chiefs. When the Pan-American conferees, including the United States, formulated their coercive programme there was every confidence that CarI'fina would be deserted by his chiefs, ft is only a few weeks since the official outgivings from Washington bluntly stated that, while Carrnnza himself might bold out to tlie last ditch, he would be alone and would become a negligible factor. Undoubtedly,,some of Carranza's civilian subordinates and former associates were ready to desert him; but the fighting element stood firmly by him, and Washington was compelled to admit one more addition to its numerous failures to understand the Mexican situation.

MILITARY CHIEFS LOYAL. Since the military chiefs are still loyal, it -,v,ay be that the country will accept the d'e facto government and support Carranza's measures for a while. Carranza will take his own time in putting into effect the f mposing programme of social and economic reforms uhout which so much has been heard; yet there is no reason to question bis good faitli in thi* programme so long as making it effective is left entirely to him. He cannot delay indefinitely Hulking some efforts to give the peons the laud which is their heritage. If his way of doing it fails to accomplish results, Carranza's reasoning will bo that it is the fault of the peons, and not of the administration of which he is the head. This is one of the mental processes of which he has given frequent evidence.

Respectability, at least superficial respectability, may be expected from the Carraw.a de facto government. Carranza' has no endless chain of kinsmen vho must be taken cure of, and the carnival of grafting, which clouded'.the Madero administration, will not be so much in evidence. Madero, like Carranza, was respectable; but he was an •clealist surrounded by materialists. Curra'na is an austere old man who may be surrounded by grafters, but who cannot be so easily imposed upon. These things may be expected of Carranza. What may be expected of the Mexican Indian population and of the tribal chiefs after a few months, or a year or so, is the unopened chapter ol Mexico's bloody history.