Intervention Near, London Papers Say.

New York Times 100 years ago today, August 28, 1913:
Daily Mail Scoffs at Policy of Abandoning American Properties.
TALK OF A PROTECTORATE
Express Says Mexico Must "Climb Down or Fight" — British Sympathy Expressed.
Special Cable to The New York Times.
    LONDON, Thursday, Aug. 28. — The Daily Mail, in an editorial on President Wilson's message, says it is clear that what the United States Government most needs is a policy of what may be called unattached boldness.
    The principal clause of the message is a thing imagination boggles at. The President urges 60, 000 or so American citizens residing in Mexico to clear out of the country. This group of men manage to control a great part of the railways, tramways and other utilities of Mexico. They represent as much as $500, 000, 000 capital, and unless they can put these trains and tramways into their pockets when they migrate, they must presumably leave them for the benefit of all and sundry. The message should be quite popular in Mexico.
    "This policy, bold though it is, is in essence even more negative than previous contributions of Washington to the solution of the many problems raised by Diaz's fall."
    The Daily News says:
    "If only the European powers do not stiffen Huerta's back, Wilson's policy may prove as judicious as prudent."
    The Daily Chronicle, referring to President Wilson's claim that his attitude is approved by other interested powers, says:
    "That is true in a sense. None of them, least of all ourselves, desires to increase the difficulties of the United States or has failed to recognize how preponderant, for geographical reasons, is her interest in Mexican politics. Nevertheless, it was the powers' policy to recognize Huerta, and it is Wilson's not to, and those two policies are not only distinct but to a great extent the second undoes the first. Had the United States stood in line with the other powers, Huerta could have obtained the necessary money, supported as he is by most of the regular military and civil forces of the country."
    The Times says:
    "The world will read with a certain bewilderment the President's statement that 'if Mexico can suggest any better way in which the United States can show its friendship we are more than willing to consider the suggestion. Not only Mexico, but all the foreign residents of Mexico and every Government whose nationals possess interests in that country have already pointed out a 'better way.' It is a simple and, we believe, an effective way, and it consists in America's following the example already set by other powers and recognizing Huerta.
    "As to America's insistence upon a general election as a means of regularizing the status of the Mexican President, Mr. Wilson can hardly be unaware that there has never yet been a genuine poll of the people of Mexico, that elections there are automatically 'made' by the party or ruler in control, and that to hold one now with the idea of testing the real sentiments of the people would be little less than a farce. Huerta would no doubt be willing to go through with the farce if it were not for the American stipulation that he is not to play the principal rôle in it. That is a demand with which President Wilson can hardly expect him to comply. It is difficult, indeed, to resist the suspicion that in thus emphasizing its purely personal objections to Huerta the United States Government may be jeopardizing its best chance of the assisting country of which, for the first time, at all events, he is the effective ruler."
    The Morning Post says:
    "President Wilson will have his hands full if he sets himself up as a censor of morals for the Presidents of Latin-America. Among the republics of this region revolutions are, to say the least, not an uncommon incident, and if the United States is to withhold the light of her countenance from every administration which is not placed in office by strictly constitutional means her relations with her neighbors may well become somewhat strained.
    "What guarantee can President Wilson have that, if a man of unblemished moral character is selected by the strictest constitutional methods to fill the office of President of Mexico, his rivals would allow him to reign in peace; and if the election did not establish peace between the hostile factions, the United States would be unable to escape from the responsibility of intervening to restore order; for if, as President Wilson declares, she is prepared to support a duly elected President by all the means in her power, she could be bound to take his side against all parties who tried to overthrow him and once she accepted this duty. Mexico would be in fact, if not in name, an American protectorate."

    LONDON, Thursday, Aug 28. — The London morning papers, commenting on the message, are not altogether sanguine of the wisdom or success of President Wilson's policy, but are agreed that it is almost certain to lead to American intervention, therefore indicating that a grave crisis has been reached.
    The Morning Post says:
    "President Wilson will have his hands full if he sets himself up as the censor of morals for the Presidents of Latin America, and if the United States accepts the duty of supporting the duly elected President, Mexico would become in fact, if not in name, an American protectorate."
    The Express says:
    "President Wilson is not the man to bluff on such a question. From his stern and explicit message it is clear that Mexico must either climb down or fight. If the former, she admits American suzerainty; if the latter, she may lose her independence altogether. Great Britain has large interests and much to lose by war, but it is difficult to understand how British sympathy could otherwise be bestowed than on the United States."

    BERLIN, Thursday, Aug. 28. — The Berlin morning papers print President Wilson's message practically without comment. Only The Deutsche Tages-Zeitung says that it is moderate and peaceable, but infers from the words that patience and forbearance are demanded in the present situation, and that "the United States is only waiting until the roast is cooked through."

    PARIS, Thursday, Aug. 28. — The Paris newspapers give much prominence to President Wilson's message, but the majority of them abstain from comment. The Petit Parisien prints in italics that part of the message in which Americans are urged to leave Mexico at once, and at the same time calls attention to the fact that war is in no sense contemplated.
    The Journal says that whatever hope President Huerta may have placed in the belief that President Wilson's policy would not be supported must now be dissipated, for, it declares, the message was an undoubted success.