AGGRESSION AGAINST MEXICO

If the implications contained in associated press dispatches announcing the termination of the Mexican-American anti smuggling convention are correct the relations between the United States and Mexico are approaching a serious crisis.

In spite of all the rumors relative to an approaching amicable settlement of the dispute over American property rights the State Department yesterday announced that "in the absence of a commercial treaty or other arrangements with Mexico safeguarding American commerce against possible discrimination the Washington government did not deem it advisable to continue the smuggling convention." This can hardly be interpreted as anything like a threat against the Calles administration. The smuggling convention required the United States to notify Mexico of any shipment of arms into that country even if the Arms Embargo was lifted. The removal of this secondary guarantee against the indiscriminate delivery of rifles to disaffected elements in Mexico quite clearly is a warning that unless U. S. demands are satisfied the Arms Embargo itself will be lifted. That, as the State Department well knows, will mean revolution, chaos, and the creation of some bandit as President who can be relied on to protect and abet the oil and land interests if his pockets are kept well filled with gold.

The Mexican situation has temporarily retired from the front page headlines but the operations of the State Department continue to bear close watching. One more step like yesterday's and the people of this country will find themselves committed to a policy of unwarranted aggression whose closest parallel is the Mexican War of '45.