Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 53, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 March 1914 — WATCHFUL WAITING IS WILSON POLICY [ARTICLE]

WATCHFUL WAITING IS WILSON POLICY

Wants to Avert Armed Intervention If Possible But Says Flan ? It Not Iron Glad. -President Wilson has clearly made it understood that he is not to be forced, into Mexican intervention by any excitement that may occur in this country. He has adopted a policy of watchful wait-, ing but admits that his policy of non-intervention is not iron clad and that if the occasion seems to demand that Unlted States soldiers be sent across the border he stands ready to accept that program? Mr. Wilson recognized the gravity of the situation, but. he is optimistically Tnclned that “everythng will come out all right.” The action of Carranza in halting the investigation of the killing of William S. Benton, the British 'subject, has added to the nternational complications’ Villa had authorized the investigation and U. S. military surgeons were to examine the body under the direction of English and U. S. diplomats. Just as the special train was ready to leave Jaurez last Saturday, taking the party to the scene of the killing, a messenger brought word that the party should not proceed as Carranza had decided that the United States had no authority in the matter and that Carranza would deal with England directly in the matter. This was. a hard jolt on the Monroe doctrine of our supremacy on this continent and it will probably take several days to see just how it is accepted abroad. If the United States Hermits Carranza’s position to maintain, then England and other foreign countries will probably interpret it as an admission that the Monroe doctrine has been abandoned. It is thought possible that President Wilson wants England to show its hand against the Mexican Constitutionalists, so that the United States will have the support later of England n the event of complications with Japan. But should England undertake to enforce reparatoin for thfe killing of Benton then would the privisions of the Monroe doctrine be entirely abrogated. The most optimistic and hopeful realize' that there is gradually coming about the necessity for the United States taking a hand in thq» Mexican troubles, but we believe that President Wilson and the state department are best informed as to the conditions and are proceeding with a policy that has been arrived at after exhaustive investigation and discussion. The people have generally approved the policy of the president, except in the raising of the embargo on arms, and should it ultimately be decided that intervention is the best .plan of settlement, then, too, would the president have the unanimous support of the people in that program. * Apparently, however, conditions are becoming worse each day in Mexico and the unreliability o£both Carranza and Villa'in the north and of Huerta in Mexico leaves no authority worthy of confidence. The keenest tact is required by the state department and the complications are r increased because of the fact that Carranza and Villa are both treacherous, uneducated men, who have little idea of international affairs, and who are burdened with the idea of self importance.