A STRONG POLICY NEEDED

Mexico has chosen the psychological moment for her latest outrages on the lives of American citizens. The world, is tired of war; public opinion is against it; and Mexico knows that many crimes must be committed before this country will send to the border an army large enough to cope with the situation. Also the Carranza government is clever enough to see the affect of American aggression on the European powers. Already suspicious of our motives because of the blind folly of the Senate in failing to ratify the Peace Treaty, any show of force on our part would turn their suspicion into hatred and fear. Moreover, the imprisonment of the United States consular agent, Jenkins, raises a nice question of international law and of the power of the Mexican executive to free Jenkins from the jurisdiction of the Puebla state court. The whole affair gives great opportunity for subtle argument, at which the Mexicans are so adept, and their note of refusal to our government is full of hair splitting legal distinctions.

The fact remains, however, that Jenkins has received very bad treatment. He was arrested because he was caught with some bandits whom he swore had kidnapped him. As he was a consular agent, of the United States, the Mexican central government has the right to intervene in his behalf. Paragraph VI of Article 104 of the Mexican Constitution promulgated in February, 1917, expressly states that the Mexican federal tribunals shall take cognizance of all cases concerning diplomatic agents and consular officers. The refusal of the Carranza government to interfere can mean only one thing--an international break with the United States.

But, after all, the Jenkins affair is only one of a long series of intolerable situations. The Mexican government has proved conclusively that it does not want or has not the power to keep order. Discounting the "shady" activities of American capitalists, discounting the exaggerated rumors of border outrages, the people of the United States have strong grounds for exasperation. Mexico is a thorn a their side seemingly impossible to extract.

Some powerful policy must be adopted and followed. The State Department must carefully investigate the facts and act accordingly. If this government is satisfied that Mexico can be considered a responsible nation, then let us stop interfering. But if not, let us not be influenced by outside opinion; let us follow our duty as we see it. Threatening and then apologizing as we have done in the past not only makes the country ridiculous but prolongs an impossible state of affairs.