Friendly Overtures To Mexico.

New York Times 100 years ago today, August 9, 1913:
    We hope it will prove that President Wilson is mistaken in his belief that certain Republican Senators are seeking to embarrass him in his efforts to bring about peace in Mexico. The remarks of Senator Bacon, Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, made in the Senate on Thursday, are sufficient evidence of the gravity of the situation that has arisen, though, of course, the Georgia Senator was not warranted in describing present conditions as being far graver than those which confronted us in Cuba. Mr. Bacon's comparison was faulty, for the Cuban "tempest in a teapot" to which he alluded was a state of actual war, while the Mexican situation is only one of those critical and delicate phases of international dealings as to which it is always to be hoped and expected that an amicable adjustment will be reached. The situation is critical, it is even grave, because, in the circumstances the visit of Mr. Lind might be the occasion of acts beyond the control of our Government or of that of Mexico which would be an occasion for serious anxiety. For that very reason it would be improper for any Senator of whichever party to put obstacles in the way of the policy the President has chosen to follow. It is the duty of the American Congress and of the American, people to sustain the President, who is sincerely seeking, according to his best judgment, to promote the restoration of peace in Mexico.
    The instructions under which Mr. Lind is proceeding to the Mexican capital have not been officially made known. We have reason to believe that he was to endeavor to bring about an agreement between the Constitutionalists and the Federal Government for a suspension of hostilities until an election of a Constitutional President can be held; that some friendly persuasion was to be used with President Huerta to induce him to retire in favor of a Provisional President acceptable to both factions, and that a fair election should be held, to the end that a President might be chosen who would be recognized by the United States. Not having been made public, these instructions, so far as the Mexican Government is concerned, do not exist, and they will not exist until it is advised of their nature. The known attitude of President Huerta and the disposition of Carranza, the chief of the Constitutionalist forces, made known in his dispatch to The Times to-day, in which he says that Huerta cannot be recognized as President and that the campaign must be fought to an end, make it sufficiently plain that no attempt at mediation in any form could well be successful. Mr. Lind, therefore, could hardly expect to secure an agreement for a suspension of hostilities. But whatever his first instructions may have been, it would be easily possible to modify them to meet the conditions which he will be able to report to President Wilson as existing on his arrival in the City of Mexico.
    The dispatch of Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs Adalpe, declaring that Mr. Lind's presence in Mexico would be undesirable unless he was instructed to recognize the Huerta Government has been received by Mr. Bryan. It is a dispatch that never should have been sent; there was no occasion for sending it. Freedom of travel and intercourse between the two republics has not been suspended, and the Mexican Government, of course, would, concede our right to dispatch a messenger or an adviser to our Embassy. Until it is definitely known that Mr. Lind has a communication to make to President Huerta, and until the substance of the communication is known, it would be preposterous to assume that his presence would be undesirable. The mischief of the dispatch lies in the fact that being published in the City of Mexico it may tend to provoke some lawless outbreak upon Mr. Lind's arrival. We should suppose that President Huerta would be most anxious to avoid giving occasion for demonstrations that might involve deplorable consequences for both nations, more particularly for Mexico.
    The task President Wilson has undertaken is beset with difficulties. Nobody doubts that. But it is equally true that nobody can doubt that he is moved by a sincere purpose to restore peace in that republic, that is, to give to the people of Mexico the greatest blessing that could be bestowed upon them. If the Mexican people could be made to understand the matter, they would know that Mr. Lind's mission is one of entire friendliness to them. President Huerta may well feel that the acceptance of any friendly advice Mr. Lind might cause to be communicated to him would involve some sacrifice of his pride or of his pretensions. If he were truly patriotic, we think he would welcome any proper effort made to put an end to the strife that now paralyzes his power and harasses the Mexican people. We are well aware that the word patriotism has not quite the same meaning in Mexico that it has here, but at least President Huerta should understand that the motive of our present policy toward his country is an earnest desire for its peace and prosperity. His refusal to recognize the entire disinterestedness of our efforts would not make a good impression here, and it would make a distinctly bad impression in European capitals. We should suppose that he would be disinclined to take an attitude which would array Mexico against the civilized world. If President Huerta has any friends in this country whose advice might have influence with him, we should think it would be well for them to tell him so.